Lucy howard online

03/11/2024

🎮 In recent years phones have slowly been becoming the primary device used for gaming. Therefore when considering whether to get your child a phone the fact they may use it to increase their time spent gaming should also be factored in as a consideration.

❓Is this something you have considered?

📱Would you recognise the early signs of Gaming Addiction? I am qualified to work with Gaming Addiction Disorder so if you are worried about this area perhaps I can help.

👩🏼‍💻 Get in touch to find out more ➡️ www.lucyhowardonline.co.uk

25/10/2024

🤳🏻 Have you seen this feature on WhatsApp which prevents people taking a screenshot of your profile pic?

📱 Screenshot blocking is automatically enabled on supported Android and iOS versions and can’t be disabled.

🔶 Useful in terms of preventing others obtaining your data but there are still ways to capture the image so still worth thinking about whether you want your children in that photo.

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21/10/2024

📱 Whether or not to allow your child access to a mobile phone is a modern day stressor for many parents. Navigating this world often isn’t easy and can feel filled with judgement and pressure. Often this can then leave parents feeling alone or isolated; nervous to seek support.

🌎 Parenting the online world involves as much attention as parenting the offline one and that has to be taken into account in the decision making process.

🔶 I offer sessions to parents where we can discuss any questions you may have about it all and to discuss with you what the right ‘access point’ for your family may be with the online world.

🫣 Things seen online cannot be unseen, and so whether your child has a phone themselves or not I would urge you not to avoid these conversations. Discussions with your children about the choices they make and the content /photos they may choose to either take on those devices or send to others are also conversations that need to happen regardless of what age you are allowing online access.

💻 Online literacy does absolutely need to be more prevalent on the curriculum but this is just as true for our own daily interactions with our children.

👩🏼‍💻 Looking for support with this? Get in touch now to discuss your own bespoke circumstances.

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09/10/2024

👣 Footprints is a new feature that allows users to keep track of locations they have either sent pictures from or have visited. All iOS users can now access this function, which was previously only available to Snapchat+ subscribers.

👻 The feature is only functional when the Ghost Mode setting is deactivated and so if you want to keep it disabled it is worth checking your child’s (or your own!) account privacy settings.

🔶 The feature is exclusive to the account owner and is private. Snapchat also allows a user to remove it if they would rather not have it enabled.

📱Disable the feature by tapping :
•Settings
•Scroll down to Account Management
•Tap on Map
•Check ‘save new footsteps to map’ is not toggled

• Alternatively ensure Ghost Mode is activated to deactivate the feature.

👩🏼‍💻 Want further support with this or other apps? Follow me for more or get in touch to get on the waiting list for future webinars 💫

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07/10/2024

📱 Have you heard of the Talkie App?

🔶 It’s an app I strongly recommend taking an intrinsic look at yourself prior to making any decision around access for your child.

👩🏼‍💻 For more information on talkie or on other apps please feel free to get in touch to discuss at : www.lucyhowardonline.co.uk

03/10/2024

💫Your feedback means so much 💫

🫶🏻 Reading these really does make it all worthwhile.

🔶 Thank you to those who came along to my very first webinar and left me such lovely comments afterwards.

👀 Watch this space for what’s coming next…. Or subscribe to find out direct to your inbox 👀

23/09/2024

🔶 Are you a Parent that wants to learn more about what your child is doing online? These are all questions I have been asked by parents about the Snapchat App.

👩🏼‍💻 Want to know more? Then this webinar is for you.

📅 Monday 30th September 2024, 730pm-830pm

💵 £10 per person.

🫶🏻 We all want our children to be safe both online and offline. But it can be hard to navigate the risks of the online world because it’s an area many parents know little about.

✅ To sign up please tap/click here:

https://lucyhowardonline.co.uk/consultations-and-events/ola/services/a-parents-guide-to-snapchat-2

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20/09/2024

17/09/2024

💫 Meta are making changes.

🤳🏻 From today Instagram is turning many privacy settings on by default for all under 18’s. This will include making their content private to people who don’t follow them, and making them actively approve all new followers.

🙋🏼‍♀️ Children aged 13 to 15 will now only be able to adjust the settings by adding a parent or guardian to their account.

🔶 Want to know more about either this or about other social media platforms? Get in touch at www.lucyhowardonline.co.uk

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10/09/2024

🔶 Are you a Parent looking for practical support in understanding the Snapchat app?

👩🏼‍💻 Then this webinar is for you.

🫶🏻 We all want our children to be safe both online and offline. But it can be hard to navigate the risks of the online world because it’s an area many parents know little about.

💻This webinar is for you if you have a child either using, or wanting to use, Snap. In it I will show you the key areas you as parents need to be aware of, and how to support your child in using them in ways that minimise risk.

🤳🏻 Please note this is a practical, hands-on course rather than a strategic overview- and you will get the most out of it if you have the app downloaded on your phone before the webinar begins.

✅ To sign up please click the link here: https://lucyhowardonline.co.uk/consultations-and-events/ola/services/a-parents-guide-to-snapchat-2

📆 Can’t make this date but would like to attend a future event? Contact me for future dates.

06/09/2024

🤳🏻 With so many of our children and young people using devices now to communicate with their friends and peer group it has never been more important to talk to them about what a healthy friendship looks and feels like ONLINE as well as offline.

🔶 Here are some questions you can use to get that conversation started with them and open up the dialogue around, not just how their friendships feel for them, but also, about their own online behaviours and the type of friend that they themselves want to be.

👩🏼‍💻 Looking for support in working through issues such as this with your child? Want someone to work with them on both identifying, and implementing, changes to create a more positive online space? Get in touch at www.lucyhowardonline.co.uk

08/08/2024

🔶 What services do I offer? For those who may not know here is a recap as to the services I currently offer.

👩🏼‍💻My aim is to make sure you don’t feel alone in managing these issues as parenting in the online world can sometimes feel a very lonely and judgemental place to be.

📱I’d love to hear from you so please get in touch with any questions/queries you may have.

🫶🏻 I also love feedback so please let me know how you have found my services if we have worked together!

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30/07/2024

🙋🏼‍♀️ Can you relate?

📱 It’s hard isn’t it? When we feel triggered we naturally want to react to that trigger. However it’s a conversation worth having with your children and young people that sometimes it’s worth reflecting before replying to someone when we feel that way.

🔶 Words typed and sent in the heat of the moment can’t be taken back and can often be misconstrued and adapted by the other party to suit their own agenda. If your child is involved in a toxic friendship it can also be exactly what the other party is seeking from them.

👩🏼‍💻 Admitting we are human and are also guilty of feeling these exact emotions can sometimes be the first step in opening up that dialogue around toxic friendships and coping strategies and how they can help themselves move forwards without feeling the need to let their fingers loose on the keyboard.

☀️ Summer can be the perfect opportunity to have exactly these sorts of conversations, particularly if your child either already has, or is going to soon have, access to devices where they can communicate with their peers. For hints and tips about the online world sent direct to your inbox sign up here ➡️ www.lucyhowardonline.co.uk

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15/07/2024

🔶 Engaging with your children and being intrusive about their time online can make such a difference.

📱If you can build it in as part of your daily routine it can really help to open up a dialogue and help you build an understanding of what they are doing, who has access to them and what they have access to.

➡️ If you are struggling try Q2 in particular to get them talking.

👩🏼‍💻 Book in either a 121 or group session if you are struggling or just looking for some help and support in this area: www.lucyhowardonline.co.uk

29/06/2024

👏🏻 Well done Fortnite for making 2FA the new must have accessory!

🎮 Two Factor Authentication (2FA) helps to secure our apps and platforms from hackers and should be enabled on all your accounts if it isn’t already. Fortnite has recently introduced some freebies that those who activate it are then entitled to. Thereby making it the latest ‘must have’ for users.

🔶 If you haven’t already done so please give in to the tween pressure on this occasion and activate it for them. Yes it will give them a couple of freebies but more importantly it secures their account against fraud.

👩🏼‍💻 Was this helpful?

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05/06/2024

📣 Calling all Parents of Gamers 📣

🔶 Are you aware of the Nintendo Parental Control App?

📱 You can download this app for free and when you log in it will show you how often your child is gaming and what games they are spending their time on. It can also be split between accounts within the family.

🚨 Be warned. A little like if most of us saw how much time we spend online- you may be shocked by the results.

🎮 Showing your children how much time they spend online can be a useful way to open up a discourse with them if this is an area of concern for you. It can also be a really helpful and simplistic way to set boundaries around time spent online.

👩🏼‍💻 Was this helpful? Subscribe for more ➡️ direct to your inbox 💫

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31/05/2024

🔶 Things to discuss with your child before they go online.

⏰ It’s never too late to have these discussions. Don’t ever think that it is. And please don’t ever assume your child knows it already. The chances are they do not know as much as they profess to about the online world. The amount of false information they acquire from peers can be dangerous and so opening up the conversation around it all allows you to explore this with them.

🔎 Here are a few ideas of things to talk about with your children that may open up a more informed dialogue between you both.

👉🏻 Looking for more help? Just get in touch ➡️ www.lucyhowardonline.co.uk

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21/05/2024

🔶 Disassociation.

🤳🏻 Why are we braver behind a screen? Often our children type things either to, or about, others that they wouldn’t dream of saying to their faces. Or they don’t speak out when someone types something mean, yet if they said it face to face they would call it out.

📱 Disassociation is something that can happen when a screen is placed between us and the subject. For any ‘Swifties’ out there Taylor sums up her thoughts about it in her lyrics here.

🔶 Happy and secure people aren’t mean. So actually she has it so very right. Worrying about what others write online about you won’t get you anywhere. And it says far more about their own insecurities than it does about you.

⛔️ Don’t engage. Don’t react. And if someone is making you feel uncomfortable then perhaps it’s time to assess why you are interacting with them.

🎶 A conversation worth having with your children - perhaps with the additional back up from Taylor?

👩🏼‍💻 Was this useful? Subscribe for updates direct to your inbox ➡️ www.lucyhowardonline.co.uk

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17/05/2024

📱 This is another question I get asked a lot.

🔶 Here’s my answer. It doesn’t matter. Act as though anything you send can be kept. That way you can’t go wrong.

💻 Nothing on the internet is ever gone for good but it can sometimes be hard to recover it. In the world of cyber- bullying that’s why it’s important to show children other ways to make sure we keep an evidential chain of any online abuse. (If this is an area you need some practical support with please feel free to get in touch as there are ways to keep copies of what is sent.)

🤳🏻 So many of our teens and tweens believe what they send over snap is gone for good and hence send images that they perhaps wouldn’t want others to see. But there are a myriad of ways we can keep footage sent over snap. So explaining this to them is really important.

⚠️ There are many ways I can see what you have sent and copy it without your knowledge. It is so important your children understand that.

🔶 And equally- snap does allow you to screenshot. A lot of parents get this wrong. When a screenshot is taken it simply notifies the other party it has done so. So as a general rule of thumb - assume that absolutely anything sent can be saved or kept by the other party.

👥 Open conversations with our young people about the choices they are making is so important in this area. It is imperative they feel that they can tell us if they have sent something they are uncomfortable with, or that equally, they have received something they are uncomfortable with.

👩🏼‍💻 Please reach out if this is an area you are struggling with and would like some bespoke help with.

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09/05/2024

📱At what age should I give my child their first phone?

📰 A big topic in the media right now. And an easy one to feel overwhelmed, judged and intimidated by. This is easily one of the most common questions I am ever asked in any interview and by any parent.

🤔 The decision over when to buy your child their first phone is a hard one for so many parents. And you aren’t alone in your worries, fears and concerns.

🔶 If this is an area you are struggling with then please feel free to get in touch to discuss your bespoke concerns in more detail.

👩🏼‍💻 Decided you want to give your child their own phone? One of the services I offer is to hold a 121 where we can discuss how to meet your bespoke family needs in giving your child a phone. We will go through the apps and platforms you/they want to add individually and discuss the settings.

✅ The result? You feel empowered and informed to help your child in developing a healthy relationship with their technology.

Get in touch if I can help ⬇️
www.lucyhowardonline.co.uk

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14/02/2023

Have you considered the risks around this feature? If your child (or you!) use an iPhone and the airdrop function is enabled and set to ‘everyone’ then anyone in the vicinity can send whatever they choose to your device.

For you as the recipient, if AirDrop is turned on, you will have a choice : to accept and receive the file from the other AirDrop user or to decline it. But many may well simply accept what is being sent without realising the risks attached.

Inappropriate images amongst other things can be sent that way. So please consider disabling airdrop on your children’s devices.

To do this:

➡️Go into settings

➡️ Tap General

➡️Tap on Airdrop

➡️Ensure the tick is next to ‘Receiving off’

A simple way to make a difference today! 💫

07/02/2023

02/02/2023

What’s new on WhatsApp? 📱

View Once for photos!

Have you seen this new feature? If you send a photo but set it to ‘view once’ in the text bar then the recipient will receive the below if they attempt to screenshot it! Give it a try yourself!

➡️To set to ‘view once’ simply select the camera icon and select the photo you wish to send. In the right hand corner of the caption bar will be a 1 in a circle. Tap it and it will turn blue. The ‘view once’ function is now activated.

23/01/2023

Empowering our children and young people to use their time online in a positive way is central to the prevention of cyber bullying and so it’s an area that we dedicate a great deal of our time to here at BulliesOut.

Delighted to be taking part in this event to help take the conversation forwards! It’s an area we truly do believe in! Let’s show them how to use those devices to make a difference in the world! 🌎

Come join us! 💜

11/01/2023

Who are you taking that photo for?

This is your weekly reminder not to believe everything you see on your social media feeds.

Thankyou .doodles for this fantastic illustration of it. (If you don’t already follow Josie she is well worth a follow!)