The Real Reason Social Media Matters for Our Kids & the Future

Posted by Jen on November 4, 2009 at 12:27 PM in Kids Around the World, Media

Last week I watched as the good people from Epic Change installed a tech lab in an elementary school in Arusha, Tanzania. My kids, Madeleine (11) and Carter (8) got a first hand look at how social media can be more than a distraction for your homework or a way to kill time with your friends. These children discovered the pure power of the web: the ability to connect human beings all over the globe for the purpose of conversation, collaboration and yes, friendship--for the very first time. The simplicity of Twitter--something both my digital media savvy kids understand without explanation--was the tool of choice and within days kids who previously had no concept of the internet or email were tweeting with social entrepreneurs, moms, teachers and good-hearted souls from all over the world.

While it's not the easiest thing in the world to set up a tech lab halfway around the world (or take your kids to Africa, for that matter), I'm incredibly thankful for my children to get a new take on the web and social media. For all the worrying we do about our kids wasting away online, now I can offer them this constructive alternative--building old fashioned pen pal type relationships with their peers in the global south. And this is just the beginning. What happens when we decide as a global community that access and connectivity is a right and privilege worthy of all the children of the world?

Having this pipeline open changes things not just for kids but for the teachers and educators who guide them. "How can we get them interested in reading?" Mama Lucy, the founder of Shepherds Junior asked. There are a hundred answers, of course, but now she has one of the most powerful solutions at her fingertips. Light them on fire with the fluency that comes with chat. Show them how to explore the myriad of child-appropriate sites dedicated to learning how to build proficiency in language and literacy in a way that wasn't available to them before. Let them navigate a brand new world built on the craving for connection and power of the word.

Mama Lucy with good friend and founder of Epic Change, Stacey Monk

You (and your kids) can tweet with the children of Shepherd's Junior School by following along on Twitter. They're waiting for you.

Family Adventures

Posted by Patience on August 25, 2009 at 7:00 AM in Kids Around the World

Jen posted about this amazing family who took a trip around the world. It made me think of my on-line friend Chris and her family who are just beginning their own adventure across North America. I am in total awe of these folks. I think they are giving their kids a tremendous gift.

I had a hard time just coming up with a picture to represent adventure for this post. While we are definitely having our own adventures, they aren't exactly requiring passports, yet. I don't know if we will ever quit our jobs, save and travel with 4 kids around the world exactly but I would like to do something adventurous together.

Can you imagine your family doing these kinds of things? Do you have a longing to see a particular beautiful place together? Where would you go? What holds you back from leading a life like this?

Kids Can Do Anything and Other Thoughts That Occur to Me

Posted by Jen on August 5, 2009 at 7:00 AM in Kids Around the World

I'm writing from Kigali, Rwanda where there is no shortage of ten year old girls who are happy to tell me their stories and show me their strength--in their academics, their home life and their dreams for the future. One of the things that strikes me about children in Africa is how independent and self-sufficient they are. Your average ten year old can navigate the bus system, go to the market to buy food, care for a younger sibling, wash clothes by hand and walk a good mile or two to carry water home for the entire family.

It begs the question: are we spoiling our children by making sure they are cared for, entertained or watched over every second? or are we truly giving them the protection that they need from legitimate dangers that exist in our society? What do you think? Can you imagine raising a ten year old to be capable of handling much more responsibility?

I'd love to know your thoughts in the comments below.