It’s -22 Celsius outside, and I’m curled up by the fire with my laptop surrounded by my 3 daughters on their various wifi-enabled devices. It’s very cozy, even if we are only superficially spending time together – our physical bodies in one comfy space and our attentions and imaginations directed to separate elsewheres. I like to think the crackle of the fire and bowl of snacks on the coffee table are enough to keep us grounded.
I’d like to wish all of my readers a very happy holidays and all the best for 2014. Let’s end the year with a look back at the most popular posts of the past year, in order of their popularity:
Bullying: Some New Facts & Figures: This post from 2012 is far and away the most popular one I’ve ever put up, telling me that parents and educators are trying mightily to get a handle on this important topic. I plan to seek out some solid updated figures on bullying for readers to consider in 2014.
Anti-Social Media: What parents need to know about Ask.fm: The most popular post from 2013 offers practical considerations about a question and answer network popular with teens. The feature allowing anonymous responses to questions invites a lot of cruelty and can be fertile ground for kids who bully.
Hot or Not? Your nine-year-old is on Instagram: How this picture-sharing network gained massive popularity with school-aged kids, tweens and teens, and what parents and educators might want to consider if they choose to allow it.
“It was just a joke!” How bullies blame their victims: Lack of remorse and blaming the victim is a big red flag for bullying, and it also intensifies the harm done to those who are its targets.
10 boys face pornography charges: What parents need to know about sexting: One of the big bullying-related cases of the year in Quebec left parents feeling very confused about sexting and Snapchat. This blog post tried to cut through the hysteria and offer some clear information and practical take-aways.
Looking forward to a great year in 2014 – I wish you all a year of good health, happiness and family togetherness!
They may spend plenty of time on Tumblr, Snapchat and Instagram, but many of today’s kids are also learning to use digital technologies in responsible ways for creative, productive projects as well.
