You're about to take an important step in a child's life.
The digital world is changing every minute of every day and navigating those changes can be overwhelming.
Here are some tips for using The Smart Talk:
Before
you talk
1
Get ready
Add your children to your dashboard.
2
Preview the quiz
Skim through some of the questions (but don’t answer any yet!).
3
Invite your child
Let your child know you’d like to have an open conversation about using technology.
4
Schedule a time
Agree on a time and place that are comfortable for both of you. You might not finish everything in one sitting–and that’s OK.
While
you talk
1
Be open
Your child has new ideas and perspectives to share. Listen with empathy and careful consideration.
2
Take turns
Rotate who reads and answers questions to keep everyone engaged and talking.
3
Stay focused
Use your device to navigate the quiz, but remove any other distractions for your child or yourself.
4
Skip as needed
If your child seems nervous or upset about a question, it’s okay to skip it and come back to that question another day. Your progress is always saved.
After
you talk
1
Celebrate!
Show excitement for what you’ve accomplished together. Do a dance, hug, or celebrate some other way your family enjoys!
2
Keep it in sight
Decide together how you would like the agreement to remain visible. Print a copy for the refrigerator or the computer desk. Maybe even set reminders to email it to your family as a check-in.
3
Schedule check-ins
Intentionally schedule conversations to ask each other how it’s going and make any adjustments.
4
Update it
It’s important to keep your agreement as a living set of guidelines, one that grows with your family. Log back in and update it together, or if your child is older now, start a new agreement to see questions that match their new age group.
