Empowering Parents in the Digital Age: A Practical Seminar for Shore Parents

Empowering Parents in the Digital Age: A Practical Seminar for Shore Parents

Dear Shore Parents and Carers,

As the final event in our 2024 parent seminar series, we are excited to invite you to our ySafe event, Empowering Parents in the Digital Age, which will take place at Shore on Wednesday 30 October. As part of our ongoing commitment to work together with students, teachers, and parents, this seminar will focus on how we can support our boys in staying safe online at home and keeping parents informed about the latest trends in social media and cyber safety.

This practical session will give parents the tools and knowledge to have meaningful, guided conversations with their sons about technology—an essential skill in navigating the different stages of adolescence, each with its own challenges and obstacles. We’ll cover how parents can be well-prepared for these issues as their boys grow, from Year 5 all the way to Year 12.

Practical tips for managing technology at home:

The seminar will emphasise practical advice, including how to set up healthy boundaries at home for managing iPhones, laptops, and other devices. You’ll gain insights into how to monitor device use effectively and create an environment that encourages safe and responsible digital habits. These tips are critical as boys enter different stages of adolescence, where challenges like gaming, gambling, and online pornography become more prominent. We’ll discuss how to address these topics with your sons, empowering you to have confident and constructive conversations about these sensitive issues.

At the beginning of the night, I will provide a brief overview of Shore’s strategy for managing devices, including our device monitoring software and cyber safety programme. I will also outline our plans for 2025, where we aim to enhance and expand our approach to digital wellbeing.

Key topics to be covered include:

  • Gaming and gambling, and online pornography challenges
  • How to guide conversations about online safety using the Shore online safety hub
  • Practical steps for establishing healthy boundaries for device use at home

Mr David Smith, our expert speaker, will lead the session. David, who is a parent of three boys and has worked closely with Shore for the past two years, has spoken directly with many of our boys and staff about navigating technology wisely. His insights will be invaluable as we learn how to help our young people grow and thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Event details:

  • Date: Wednesday 30 October 2024
  • Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
    (refreshments available from 5:30 pm, with the session starting promptly at 6:00 pm)
  • Location: Smith Auditorium

This session is a wonderful opportunity to ask questions, share experiences, and be part of the conversation. While the seminar will be recorded and shared with our Boarding families via Lampada, we strongly encourage parents to attend in person if possible to get the most out of the evening.

There is no charge for the event, but for catering purposes, please secure your tickets via this link: trybooking.com/CWJIV.

We look forward to seeing you there and working together to help our boys navigate the digital world with confidence and responsibility.

Regards,

Mr Derek Champion
Deputy Head, Pastoral Care