What’s this book about?
Tweens and teens need to be taught digital life skills. Today’s youth have access to more technology and information than any previous generation. That digital access includes risks in many forms such as cyberbullying, identity theft, and requests for nudity. There’s also some loss of personal connections and a potential negative impact on their mental wellness.
While the risks are real, author Angela Crocker advocates for a proactive approach. Rather than fear what will happen to them online, empower youth with digital savvy so they know what to do day-to-day and where to seek help if dangers pop up in their feeds.
Children and teenagers need age-appropriate guidance to help them navigate the internet, digital communication, online friendships, study habits, and more. Digital Life Skills for Youth is for parents, guardians, educators, and anyone who wants to be a positive guiding influence on the next generation of digital citizens. Angela Crocker offers this book full of real-world solutions, guidance, and practical steps to setting youth up for digital success.
What youth need
To learn digital skills, youth need guidance. Children and teens need to see technology in use and have opportunities to try it out first hand. This happens through observation of modeled behaviors and step-by-step demonstrations of specific skills from, both peers and adults.
What parents and teachers need
As parents and teachers, it’s our responsibility to nurture digital citizens who can, eventually, be fully functioning adults with the problem solving skills and confidence to tackle any technical situation. Wherever digital skills are needed, parents and teachers have to take responsibility for guiding youth to learn the skills they need in a way that is both productive and that protects their mental and physical wellness. And, together, we must create a community that acknowledges the diverse abilities, maturity, and self-regulation of every youth as a unique individual.
As a parent or teacher you may be daunted by this responsibility. Digital information is constantly changing. It can be hard to keep up for your own needs, let alone figuring out what issues might be impacting youth in your life.
Add to that some terrifying headlines that focus on the negative aspects of the internet. Cyberbullying, child pornography, and luring fuel many parents nightmares. It’s important to acknowledge that these are serious issues that must be addressed. But, Angela argues, far more families and schools are trying to help kids figure out the basics and best practices in their digital lives. In this book, you’ll read lots about the issues and strategies to help you tackle them. This book puts emphasis on preventative and practical digital like skills that parents and teachers can share.
Digital Life Skills for Youth in the News
Catch Angela’s conversation with Mike Agerbo host of The App Show on CKNW. What role should regulation play as parents, teachers, and social media when children and teens are online?
(Short on time? Jump to 9:25 to catch this segment.)
Places to Purchase
Digital Life Skills for Youth will be widely available. If you’d like to order a copy, ask your local independent bookstore (Angela’s favourites include Black Bond Books, Galiano Island Books, and Powell’s City of Books) or your preferred national chain bookstores like Chapters/Indigo and Barnes & Noble. In September, it will be available in Western Canada at London Drugs and Save On Foods. It can also be ordered from Amazon around the world – Canada, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and elsewhere.