The internet is everywhere. Apps, games, emails, news, podcasts… it’s all out there. And, its up to the adults to help our young people navigate the online world safely and productively until they are old enough to make their own decisions. Thankfully, we have people like my friend Joe Ryan to help us all navigate this realm safely.
After starting as a school resource officer for the Richland County Sheriff’s department, Joe Ryan became the education coordinator for the South Carolina Attorney General’s office. He’s spent his time there reaching out to connect with and educate students, parents, and community members to help prevent victimization of children through the internet.
Joe is a close friend of Camp Weequahic and is happy to share some of his ideas on how we can help our children stay safe while playing around in the digital sandbox and how we can help them create good online habits. Without further ado, here’s our campfire talk with Joe Ryan.
Technology is not going any where. The connection and the information and the entertainment that our kids hold in their hands or sit in front of… it’s not going away. It’s up to the adults to teach, guide, educate and shape our young people’s response to and interaction with technology. It’s up to us to keep them safe while they gain their digital footing, as it were.
I love the ideas the Joe spoke about. I can’t tell you how much it reminded me of that first night at camp. Our campers and staff members sit on the floor in a circle, getting to know one another and setting ‘bunk expectations’ together. They write it all down, everyone signs it and the bunk posts it in a place everyone can see.
When there is a behavior that falls out of line with the agreed upon expectations, the counselors (or other campers) point to the agreements. Once the group has been together for a while, they review to see where they are at in relation to the expectations. Sometimes, they make changes based on what the counselors are seeing or on what the campers are seeing.
Setting expectations together, understanding the ‘why’ behind certain decisions, and keeping the lines of communication open is hugely important. Do your best to take the emotional knee jerk reactions out of this experience and do all you can to set the right example for your kids as you help them navigate the online world safely and productively.
Thanks for joining us around the campfire. If you enjoyed this show, make sure to check back for more podcasts that focus on bringing the learning of camp to the larger world. If you like what you hear, please leave a review and tell your friends. We’ve got a great big campfire circle and everyone is welcome. Until we speak again, do good and be good.
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