Tanya Wilson Chua’s Post

Our very own Dr. Phillippi shares some helpful insights on how apps like Snapchat are affecting teens today in a recent article in the Northside Sun. One parent, Heather White, shared how she’s tackled the issue by setting a simple rule—no Snapchat after 10:30 p.m.—to help manage her kids’ screen time. It’s a small step that can make a big difference when it comes to balancing digital life and mental health. “It’s all about having open conversations with your kids about the impact of social media,” Dr. Phillippi says. Check out the full article for more tips on how to navigate the challenges of parenting in the digital age. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g627PUW5 #Parenting #TeenHealth #MentalHealth #Snapchat #DigitalWellness #TrustCare #DrPhillippi

“A child's natural role is to test boundaries, while ours is to hold those boundaries firmly," Tyson explains. "Though they may protest, young people actually rely on us to guide them toward healthy decisions.” Once again, Parents magazine invited me to be an expert contributor on their media platform! The reporter, Holly Garcia, shared that she subscribes to my LinkedIn newsletter and finds it super helpful as a mom (cue my happy dance). In this timely article for the holiday season, which is often a screen time heavy period, we are talking about those pesky YouTube families our kids are watching all the time! I have a kid who thinks homeschooling is an option for her b/c she sees it on YouTube 🙅♀️. Pray for me. In this article, we cover: - Which popular families are most kid-friendly based on age and content shared. - What types of family reality shows are not appropriate for kids. - How to talk to children about what they see on these shows. - Setting boundaries around YouTube use. - The benefits/drawbacks of watching "reality" family shows (they are often scripted and planned). If your children watch shows like The Royalty Family, The LaBrant Fam, Shot of Yeagers, or others you don't want to miss this article! Ok, it's your turn to weigh in mental health professionals - what type of benefits and drawbacks do these shows create for children and families? Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/efXgn3Ef #parenting #mentalhealth

Navigating tech and social media with your kids? This insightful article shares tips for responsible digital parenting. Takeaways include: ✨ Start early teaching self-restraint with tech use ✨ Help them develop engaging off-screen interests ✨ Model putting devices away for family time ✨ Quantify time spent online to promote balance ✨ Discuss social media's influence on self-worth The goal? Raise kids who can benefit from technology while developing crucial life skills like social skills and the ability to combat boredom through enriching activities. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gvA99Dhc.

In today’s digital world, bad influences don’t knock on the door—they live inside your child’s devices. One of the most common pieces of advice parents give to their children is to avoid bad friends. While our parents may not have always been right about who those "bad friends" were, they typically encouraged us to cut off communication with them. In the past, it was easier to separate a child from negative influences because those influences were outside the home. But today, things are drastically different. Unfortunately, it's nearly impossible to completely rid our children of "bad friends" in the modern world. Why? Because these negative influences have moved inside our homes—right into our children’s devices. Your child no longer needs to leave the house to be exposed to harmful content or bad influences. Their biggest temptations and your deepest fears can manifest in their DMs or social media feeds. As a parent, you may sometimes feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of inappropriate or harmful content available online. Even as adults, we often come across things on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp that make us uncomfortable or feel too mature to consume. Our children, however, are constantly exposed to these platforms. The dangerous part is, that these that influences are faceless and often more powerful than any in-person bad friend could ever be. They can shape your child’s values, beliefs, and behaviors without you even knowing. The worst part is that children today are very savvy about navigating the online world. They not only know how to find bad content, but they also know how to hide it from their parents. This makes modern parenting a true challenge. Parenting in today's digital age is not just about setting boundaries outside the home—it’s about being vigilant and intentional about what happens inside, on and the screens your child interacts with. Join the 'Learn with Faridah' parent series to explore more on how to practice intentional parenting in the digital world and safeguard your child from online dangers #DigitalParenting #IntentionalParenting #ParentingInTheDigitalAge #OnlineSafetyForTeens #SocialMediaInfluence #ModernParenting #LearnWithFaridah #ParentingChallenges #ProtectOurChildren

🔞 Bringing up teens is challenging. The pressure they're under is huge, whether it's school, social media, peer pressure, relationships, friendships - and the need to be pretty, strong, thin, popular etc....depending on the latest trends. We were exposed to media imagery here and there in our youth; we could put magazines down and we only had 3 or 4 TV channels. We spent more time outside, we communicated face to face - we talked! In an era where we've never been more connected, how truly connected are we? Add in hormones, developing teenage brains, the need to be right 100% of the time and you get a melting pot of angst and anxiety. In the meantime we parents wade through treacle trying to help - the guilt is real. Plus we're trying to run businesses, be effective employees, run our homes and stay sane, all whilst the empty nest scenario looms in the not too distant future. So if you're a parent raising teens right now, spinning several plates all at the same time, you're not alone..... (image reposted from Pinterest) #teenagers #workingparents #notalone

When the 🌪️ sirens sounded, my husband and 2 teen daughters and I all went down to the basement together. The four of us squished together on the couch.  At first, we kept watching the show that was on and almost all of us were also using our phone—scrolling or playing Tetris. 📱🎮 🖥️ But then the power went out. 🪫 And the wifi was cut off too… 😣 We sat around in the basement in the dark and were like: "Now what do we do?" ⁉️ We turned on some headlamps and we talked. 🕯️ We started taking turns telling stories from our lives. My youngest daughter made everyone crack up because of her hilarious jokes.   With the lights off, we got silly and laughed so hard we got a cramp. 🤪 It was beautiful. We were down there for over an hour. It went so quickly. 🕰️ That connecting and quality together time NEVER would have happened if everyone was distracted and isolated on their own tech device.  I thought: Is this what we’ve been missing out on? 🥹 I've been doing a lot of research lately on the impact of excessive screen time on our youth. Missing out on quality family time and cultivating relationships with depth and meaning is only ONE of the devastating effects. There is an entire DOMINO EFFECT too much screen time has on our kids, our family and our culture. I created a workshop for parents of teens (ages 10-20) that outlines specific strategies we can take to protect our teens (and kids) from the dangers of social media & gaming before technology takes control of & ruins their life. Parent Workshop: Social Media & Screen Safety  ✅ How teens can THRIVE despite being inundated with soul-sucking & addiction-causing technology.  ✅ The parental SUPERPOWER you already have that will save your teen from letting technology ruin their life. ✅ Three essential skills to strengthen teens’ resilience against excessive tech, toxic culture and internal self doubt. If you have a child that has access to video games, the internet, a smartphone and/or streaming services, you do not want to miss this workshop! Which workshop fits best in your schedule? 🗓️ Wednesday, October 9th 7 pm CST 🗓️ Thursday, October 24th 7 pm CST Click here to save your seat: https://lnkd.in/gjajz4uq

If you have teens on social media, they are probably using or at least hearing the phrase "big back." And the trendy term is trickling down to younger and younger kids. Do you know what it can mean and how kids are using it today? I was grateful to talk about this tricky topic with Beth Greenfield for Fortune magazine. #socialmedia #adolescentmentalhealth #eatingdisorderawarness #bodyimage https://lnkd.in/gAJxYsgQ

With recent calls to ban social media for kids, I wanted to explain why I think we are making a mistake. I'm concerned the pendulum is about to swing too far and create a generation of 'overprotected' or 'bubble wrapped' kids in the online world. ➡️Who wont be equipped with the tools and knowledge to safely enter the online world when they grow up, or when they inevitably access social media through a friend, sibling, or when their parents are not around. ➡️Instead of banning social media for kids, I think the appropriate response to the online harms (that do exist!) is to actually parent our kids. ➡️This generation of parents have a tough job on their hands because these are new problems we have never learned to face. ➡️But that doesn't mean to solution is to avoid and ban social media, because it isn't going away anytime soon. Imagine how powerful your child could be when they know how to navigate social media in a healthy and productive way, instead of having to sneak around bans and rules to get their fix... ➡️And here's a challenge; for those who are using psychology terminology in everyday settings, e.g. "addiction" or want to "prove" the Haidt hype - in 20 years I haven't found robust research that supports what is being said (hence this post) IF you can provide me with studies to back up your challenge or claim then I can change my mind. ➡️Text based replies do not include my emphasis, tone of voice or way I work IRL; so if I counter your reply then you will read it with your own lens. ➡️I teach parents, carers, teachers and professionals HOW to navigate this new world of social media with their kids so you don't have to ban it from your home and cross your fingers that they'll be okay when they use social media as adults... I've launched a parenting group on my website you can join and learn the tools you need. Link in my bio. #parents #parenting #childrensmentalhealth #screentime #kiddandsocialmedia #kidsandphones #childonlinesafety #onlineharms

Obviously I am NOT Gen Z, but this is #interesting.... A Gen Z Perspective on Growing Up with Social Media It's no secret that the adults in our lives often warn us about the dangers and addictive nature of social media. However, they didn't grow up immersed in the digital world like we did. They didn't have phones handed to them as toddlers, weren't on Musical.ly before learning to read, and didn't rely on screens to connect with friends during a pandemic. As Gen Z, we're navigating a whole new world. With the wisdom gained from our experiences, we're sharing advice with our younger peers on what we wish we knew when we first got online. #GenZ #SocialMedia #DigitalNatives #AdviceForYoungerGenerations #OnlineSafety

#Parenting in the digital age comes with unique challenges. Managing screen time, ensuring online safety, and navigating the impact of social media on children is a tricky situation. Embracing technology for educational purposes and setting limits to maintain a balance amidst social media, and a fast-paced lifestyle is demanding . Knowing about the latest trends and online platforms our children might be engaging with is important. Leading by example—demonstrating positive online behaviour and mindfulness helps. Emphasising the importance of family time and reinforcing values that go beyond the digital realm is desirable. Actively participating in our children's online lives while maintaining offline connections, is the way forward. As caregivers, let's be steady guides for our children, offering support through life's challenges—they may bend, but they won't break #DigitalParenting #ParentingTips #TechBalance #InformedParenting #Harleen2Coach #Onelifetolive Video credit: Internet