The Ultimate Digital Parenthood Gift Guide
A note from Aura's Chief Medical Officer, DrScott As a parent, I love my kids more than anything. And I know you do, too. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't hard to be a parent sometimes! I think that's a pretty universal feeling around the world and even through time. If I had a way to transport myself back to the middle ages, I bet I'd find some parents to commiserate with (even though our parenting challenges would certainly be different!) This decade might be the hardest time ever to be a parent, though. According to an advisory issued by the Surgeon General , a whopping 48% of parents say that most days their stress is completely overwhelming (compared to 26% among other adults.) There's so much to worry about: online safety, offline safety, health, balancing remote school and remote work…the list goes on. And it gets even more difficult during the holidays! It feels like kids are talking about new tech every five minutes these days—and revising their gift lists just as fast. Heck, there's even an AI Santa Claus that can have a conversation with your kids. (Is that even safe? We're still trying to decide!) So we, in collaboration with several of our DigitalParenthood experts, wanted to do whatever we could to make your holiday season easier. As a parent, you need community, support, and resources to help you create safe online and offline environments for your kids. This gift guide serves as the latter—and our community of supportive parents and experts is always open to you at DigitalParenthood.com. Wishing you a happy, peaceful holiday season. Download your copy below ⬇️Family guide: 5 strategies for setting digital media boundaries and guidelines for kids
These technologies can provide cognitive, social, and emotional benefits, such as expanded learning opportunities, global connections, and outlets for self-expression. Research indicates that screen media that are intentionally designed to support kids’ development can help them do better in school, learn new skills, and become better readers. And it’s not just about learning — playing video games and other online activities can also help kids build friendships and meaningful connections with others. However, potential risks and negative effects, such as social isolation, overuse, and mental health issues must also be considered and addressed. As kids grow up immersed in digital media, parents and other caregivers play a crucial role in guiding their digital media use and creating a supportive environment for meaningful technology interactions. Here are the Digital Wellness Lab’s top five strategies to help parents support their kids’ learning to set healthy boundaries and balance online and offline time. 1. Get involved: co-playing and co-viewing. If parents want a real view of how their kids spend their time online, they need to participate actively in their kids’ digital experiences. By engaging in digital media activities alongside kids, parents can help them make better choices about the content they consume and encourage meaningful discussions about themes, messages, and values. One effective strategy is co-viewing and co-playing with kids, which fosters bonding and shared enjoyment while also providing an opportunity for guidance and supervision. Co-playing can also help identify potential risks, such as inappropriate content or interactions, and allow parents to address them promptly and effectively. By sitting with children and picking up a video game controller or scrolling through online videos together, parents can find shared interests, encourage more open communication, and enable their child to be the expert. 2. Model good digital habits. It’s never too early to model healthy, balanced media and technology habits for children. When adults show kids responsible digital behavior, it sets a strong example for them to follow. Parents can help their kids find balance and purpose in their digital lives by being mindful of their own screen use, focusing on meaningful online activities, and being good digital citizens. Openly discussing their digital habits and the reasons behind them can further emphasize the importance of responsible use, ensuring kids understand the benefits of adopting such practices. Besides being digital role models, parents can highlight the importance of offline activities by participating with their kids. Whether it’s getting active, exploring creative pursuits, or simply enjoying quality time together without screens, these activities will show them the value of a balanced lifestyle that includes both digital and real-world experiences. 3. Use creative apps. Purposeful and meaningful digital media activities can help establish supportive habits and boundaries for kids. Parents can ensure their children’s exposure to digital media enriches their learning experience by encouraging them to explore creative apps and websites. Online creative outlets can inspire and nurture kids’ artistic and imaginative abilities. Platforms that support digital art, music, and writing enable young people to explore various forms of self-expression, cultivate their talents, and share their creations with a broader audience. Encouraging children to engage with these creative tools can foster emotional well-being and personal growth and help them develop essential skills like problem-solving, communication, and collaboration. 4. Create opportunities for more mindful screen engagement. Children develop at different rates, and all families have different values and routines. This can make one-size-fits-all rules about screen time and content difficult to determine. However, families can encourage their children to be mindful of what they are doing online and why. Working together to create a shared Family Media Plan is one way for families to encourage critical thinking about the types of media they want to consume and the devices they want to use. It is an excellent way to ensure that everyone in the household is on the same page regarding digital media use. Families can revise the plan at regular intervals as children become more media literate and families begin to understand more about the positive and negative effects of technology and media for themselves and their children. Once guidelines are agreed upon, it’s important for parents and caregivers to follow them, too. In our recent Pulse Survey, just 37% of adolescents reported their parents followed their own technology rules, which can impact how kids feel about the rules (and whether they choose to follow them). Families can also create screen-free zones and set screen-free times to promote balance. Designate areas like bedrooms and dining rooms as spaces where screens are off-limits and identify times, such as mealtime or homework sessions, when screens are to be turned off. This approach encourages family connection, fosters healthy sleep habits, and makes mealtime an opportunity for meaningful conversation. 5. Make time for breaks and offline fun. Encouraging regular breaks from screens and getting kids involved in offline activities is important for their social, emotional, and cognitive development. These breaks help them enjoy a balanced life with digital and real-world experiences. Encourage offline hobbies like reading, drawing, or playing musical instruments. Get kids moving with sports, dancing, or outdoor play—all great for their physical and mental health. Parents should also give kids plenty of opportunities to socialize face-to-face, building essential social skills and strong friendships. By balancing screen time with offline activities, parents can guide their kids to better digital media habits. Moving forward. As technology becomes more integrated into our daily lives, setting digital media boundaries and guidelines for kids is critical. As parents and educators, we are responsible for guiding children’s digital media use and creating a supportive environment that balances digital and IRL (“in real life”) experiences. By implementing strategies like these, parents can help kids develop healthy digital media habits and navigate the digital landscape safely and responsibly. With intentional and purposeful effort, we can all help children have a well-rounded and enriching experience with digital media. We encourage parents to use these strategies to support their children’s healthy digital media habits. We invite parents and caregivers to explore our Family Digital Wellness Guide for more resources, tools, and support to help them navigate their kids’ digital media use.Making our kids safer online, together
Like many parents, I have a lot of different titles and wear several hats. To my son (age 14) and daughter (age 12), I’m Dad. In my work as a clinical psychologist, I’m Dr. Kollins. And here in my new role at Aura, I’m Chief Medical Officer. But we’re friends here; you can just call me Dr. Scott. I joined Aura earlier this year because I’m passionate about better understanding and improving the impact that technology has on mental health, especially for the most impressionable young minds: our kids. It might seem unusual to have a Chief Medical Officer working at an online safety company like Aura. But I think it makes sense. Kids today spend nearly 7.5 hours a day online, and a lot of their socialization takes place in digital spaces. Aura's focused on making those digital spaces safer and easier to manage, and I'll be on hand to help our research and development team make tools that benefit your whole family. But that's not all I'm doing. I'll also be here, in our DigitalParenthood.com community, talking about what really matters when it comes to keeping our kids safe online. No fear-mongering, no scary headlines backed up by vague details. Just real, science-backed insights about how our kids are developing—and the risks they might be encountering online—delivered from one parent to another. In a regular column about what keeps me, as a father of two tweens, up at night (and might be keeping you up), I'll share findings from research at Aura and other scientists, along with tips to help you and your kids navigate our digital world safely and effectively. Dr. Jessica Flannery, Aura’s Chief Parent and Director of Clinical Product Integration, will be joining me here in our community. Dr. Jessica is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience in digital health interventions and neurobiological development. She’s a great resource to help us all learn more about how we can use evidence-based tools and techniques to support our kids’ mental health and well-being. You’ll see Dr. Jessica popping up throughout the community to offer practical advice; she’ll also be publishing a regular column called “Office Hours with Dr. Jessica.” Navigating digital parenthood can be tricky, confusing, and at times, overwhelming. Our kids have to navigate a digital world much earlier in life than we ever did. Together, we’re going to help them make the most of it in a happy and healthy way. Dr. Scott Kollins Chief Medical Officer, AuraFree Download: Internet Safety Maze⬇️
A fun, free activity in honor of National Puzzle Day: Guide Monica through the maze to collect online safety badges. You'll earn: Password Prodigy Badge Privacy Protector Badge Popup Popper Badge Kind Keyboard Badge Time Master Badge Parents, use the question and answer key on page two to prompt your child as they make their way through the maze. DOWNLOAD HERE⬇️5 ways to reduce the impact of screen time
Check out our five tips to reduce the impact of screen time on your kids. 1. Balance the good with the bad. Not all screen time is created equal. There’s plenty of enriching content that’s only possible with a device, like calls with distant relatives, interactive education apps, or informative videos that show your kids how to interact with or see the world in new ways. Meanwhile, excessive gaming or scrolling on social media can pose issues, like the dopamine hits they get when someone “likes” their photo or when they win points in a game. Talk to your children about the differences between types of screen time, and set guidelines and limits based on what is right for your family. Parental controls, like the ones we have at Aura, can help you choose what apps and websites your kids can use at certain times. 2. Co-watch with your kids. Depending on their ages, watch TV or videos with them. Encourage them to interact with content, like singing along or answering questions. Ask about what they’ve seen, how it makes them feel, and more. Help them create a connection between what they’re seeing on a screen and real life. 3. Set a digital curfew. A good night’s sleep is essential for healthy brain development, but screens are designed to keep us hooked. Blue lights on our screens can also disrupt our sleep, which can lead kids to not get enough sleep and ultimately affect their behavior and learning. Most experts recommend turning off devices one to two hours before bedtime, but every family is different. No matter what you decide is right for your kids, consistency is key. 4. Get outside! Being outside can improve your concentration, elevate your mood, and boost your overall health, while excessive screen time can impact all three. More than half of teens (56%) admitted feeling lonely, upset, or anxious—when they didn’t have their phone. Time in front of a device replaces physical activity, so for better health and less screen use, take your kids for a walk, bike ride, or another activity that encourages them to enjoy the great outdoors. 5. Set aside time for family. Schedule some digital device-free times to be together as a family. For example, mealtime can be a great opportunity to create real-life connections with your kids when you can talk with them about their day and even relieve some of the stress and anxiety of navigating life as a kid.New Resource: Tech/Life Balance Family Report & Guide📚
Our latest "Tech/Life Balance" resources are now available to the DigitalParenthood community! The first installment in our series is focused on social-emotional health and gives parents the tools to foster stronger communication and resilience in their kids. We believe that meaningful connection is the best defense against today’s digital challenges. These resources are grounded in real stories from California families and leading experts and offer practical strategies that families can implement right away. To celebrate, Jennifer Heifferon (Program Director of Child Well-being) sat down with DigitalParenthoods Dr. Scott Kollins and talked about all of the ways that the resources can help parents. Download the resources below! ⬇️
