Listen. Ask our kids about their in-game experiences, and then listen a lot. It may sound simple and we've heard it before, but listening can have powerful effects. This video interview for Kids and Media UK about kids and videogames with University of Bournemouth professor Stephen Heppell, who for more than 30 years has been helping communities and governments in many countries design and … [Read more...] about Why kids love video games & what parents can do about it
Parenting
Powerful play: A mom & son in World of Warcraft
I met Malinda at an educators' conference several years ago and, over dinner, so enjoyed hearing the story you're about to read. I later got to meet and dine with both Malinda and her son Dillon and wish you could enjoy that too. Recently I asked her if she'd be willing to tell of this experience in NetFamilyNews, because I wanted fellow parents to know that this kind of long-distance camaraderie … [Read more...] about Powerful play: A mom & son in World of Warcraft
It’s time to outgrow the ‘kids, these days’ cliche
Every generation, we adults seem to swing between fear of young people and fear for them. Of course now, with the advent of social media, it's really justified, right? Actually, no, even less so. More on that in a second. In a commentary at Forbes.com, parent and tech policy analyst Adam Thierer at George Mason University asks a very good question: "Why Do We Always Sell the Next Generation … [Read more...] about It’s time to outgrow the ‘kids, these days’ cliche
Hey, companies, tablets are family devices too!
Someone should find out how many parents there are at Apple, Amazon, and other tablet makers. But maybe it doesn't matter – no matter how many there are, they're just not thinking like parents in designing and marketing iPads, Kindles, and other tablet devices. They need to stop compartmentalizing their lives so much and put on their parent hats at work! Because tablets are every bit as much … [Read more...] about Hey, companies, tablets are family devices too!
Parenting in the digital age: Major insights
A lot of insights into digital-age parenting have been surfacing in the research this year – so much good stuff, in fact, that I'm going to crunch it way down into brief snapshots and give you the links so you can find what's relevant to you. 1. Tech parenting Right up front in "Toward Predicting Youth Resistance to Internet Risk Prevention Strategies," Sahara Byrne and Theodore Lee at … [Read more...] about Parenting in the digital age: Major insights