[4-6] Empowering middle-schoolers to make safer media decisions

Ever have trouble motivating your tween to follow the family rules around tech and screens? Kids this age need lots of love, guidance, and direction. Yet, they’re naturally prone to push boundaries and gravitate toward peer influence. That can feel scary for us moms and dads. But following their peers is not always bad. Especially if we can get our youth to mentor each other in positive ways. Imagine! Middle-schoolers empowering middle-schoolers to make safer media decisions!

In this episode, I speak with Britany Homer, mom of four and executive director of End Exploitation Montana. Brittany is also the driving force behind STAND WEEK a fantastic peer-led middle school media safety program that is fun, energetic, simple to implement, appealing to young teens, and available for use in any school district.

Safer media decisions

At the heart of STAND WEEK are five incredible messages: stand up, stand out, stand for, stand with, and stand now. The program is designed to empower students with their peers (and parents) to make safer media decisions. Brittany believes that with the right tools and support there is no limit to a child’s potential.

In this episode:

• Seeing the solution. No problem is too big. Get involved and do something.
• STAND WEEK. Designed to help youth recognize their values and maintain their position.  
• Healthy framework. Providing parents with the means to continue the conversation.
• Love and boundaries. Children thrive when they are given clear rules and expectations. 

Compass challenge

Here’s a fun and surprising challenge. Play a board game with your tween this week. These games are like a microcosm of real life. They have rules, they have boundaries and yet you get to have fun within them. Plus, there are often difficult emotions to manage while playing (winning and losing!). What an awesome opportunity to strengthen your relationship and come out with a fun memory.

Download our FREE guide

Want help creating healthy boundaries around screen time and devices in your home? Download your FREE Quick Guide to Safer Screen Habits in this week’s show notes. Click here. https://bit.ly/Quick-Guide-to-Safer-Screen-Habits

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, please leave a positive review or tell a friend!

More about today’s guest

Brittany has always believed that with the right tools and support there is no limit to a child’s potential. She has a master’s degree in Family and Human Development, is a Certified Family Life Educator, and is creator and host of the podcast, Raising Today’s Kids where she shares her deep belief in the power of parents. Brittany has also served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), Sexual Assault (SANE) Advocate, Team Leader for Montana’s Operation Underground Railroad Volunteer Team, and a member of The Safeguard Alliance (a task force of the National Center on Sexual Exploitation). 

Brittany has a bucket list the length of Montana. She would love to experience every adventure from learning to yodel, to running an ultra-marathon, to seeing the northern lights from a hot spring. She loves to travel and integrate with the locals wherever she goes and has had life-changing conversations in cultures from Israel to Haiti. The experience that trumps all others though, is that of being a mother. She and her husband feel so blessed to have four children who inspire her to fight to protect all children.

Links/Resources

STAND WEEK – Media Safety for Youth

PODCAST – Raising Today’s Kids

NEW COURSE – Get Off the Fence: Confidently Talk to Your Child or Teen About Pornography

FORTIFY – Is your teen struggling with pornography? Click here to check out Fortify – FREE for youth!

BARK – Want help monitoring your kids’ apps and social media? Click here for a FREE 30-day trial of the Bark App or download it at the app store and use our promo code: MEDIASAVVY

COVENANT EYES – Need great filtering software for your internet and devices? Click here to check out Covenant Eyes.

*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means, at no additional cost to you, Parents Aware/Media Savvy Moms receives a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thanks for helping to support us in our mission to protect families from the harms of pornography.

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Media Savvy Moms Podcast

Who knew honest conversations about parenting and pornography could be so approachable? Join Marilyn for a series of contemplations, chats, and interviews as she helps fellow parents tackle this challenging topic with their kids.

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