Parent Magazine Volusia December 2018 | Page 14

Sandra Perez, 18, created her own YouTube channel featuring fashion and makeup demonstrations. Perez, who plans to pursue a degree in communications in the fall, now has over 1000 followers and has been approached by corporate sponsors. “It’s something she wanted to do anyway, to practice her public speaking skills, and now she has a professional site,” says Buchner, who hired Perez to work as her marketing intern. TIP: Whether your children like to watch Minecraft videos or pin craft ideas on Pinterest, monitor what they watch and post. Even if they delete their viewing history, you can see the types of videos they’ve been watching by reviewing YouTube’s recommendations. Social media can give kids the opportunity to meet peers who share their interests, and Buchner believes it can boost their confidence in face-to-face interactions. “Sometimes really shy kids or kids who don’t have a lot of friends are more comfortable finding friends through social media,” Buchner says. “It’s an opportunity to tread lightly and put yourself out there a little bit.” TIP: Balance out your child’s tech-use with “in-real-life” play dates and activities. Also, role model responsible device use, set consistent boundaries and establish digital citizenship rules. Some interactive sites & apps that promote creativity, learning and sharing: • Create comic strips at MakeBeliefsComix.com. • Interview and collect family stories with the StoryCorps.me app. • Check out YouTubeKids, a free app offered by YouTube featuring videos, channels and playlists for younger children. • Explore history in the collaborative community HistoryPin.org. Unsure if an app, game, movie or website is a good fit for your child? Check out CommonSenseMedia.org. 12 | V O L U S I A parent MAGAZINE