Digital Tech and Social Media Resources For Caregivers

💬 Start the Conversation

🧠 Understanding Digital Life

💻 Digital Safety & Wellbeing

📱 Tools & Tech Planners

❤️ Caregiver-Specific Resources

👶 Early Childhood (Ages 0-5)

💡 Expert Tips & Guides

💬 Start the Conversation

Resources for talking with kids and teens about tech & social media. 

• Talking with Your Teen About Social Media
  UMN Extension
  
  

• UMN Extension Printable Guides for Caregivers (PDF): Starting the Conversation

  • Technology Use in Early Childhood (ages 0-5)

  • Digital Tech & Social Media (ages 6-12)

  • Navigating Teen Tech (ages 13-17)

• Conversation Starters for Families
  SAMHSA PDF
  
  

• Teen Talk Fact Sheet Series: Talking to Teens About Tough Topics
  UMN Extension
  
  

• Talking to Teens About Tough Topics
  UMN Extension

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🧠 Understanding Digital Life

Background info and guidance for raising digital citizens. 

• Raising Digital Citizens: Parent Resources for All Ages
  UMN Extension
  
  

• Social Media and the Internet
  American Psychological Association
  
  

• Teens, Social Media & Tech (2024 Research)
  Pew Research
  
  

• Teen Development
  UMN Extension
  
  

• Harvard Center for Digital Thriving
  Website
  
  

• Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab
  Website

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💻 Digital Safety & Wellbeing

Protecting kids online and building healthy habits. 

• Online Safety for Youth: Tip Sheet
  Children and Screens
  
  

• Cyberbullying
  KidsHealth
  
  

• THORN for Parents: Be Your Kid’s Safety Net
  THORN
  
  

• NetSmartzKids: Be Safer Online
  NCMEC
  
  

• App/Game Reviews by Parents
  Common Sense Media

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📱 Tools & Tech Planners

Resources to help manage screen time and digital routines. 

• Family Tech Planners (English & Spanish)
  Common Sense Media
  
  

• StayFree App
  StayFree
  
  

• Forest App
  Forest

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❤️ Caregiver-Specific Resources 

For foster, kinship, and caregiving adults navigating tech with kids. 

• Youth in Care and Social Media Use
  Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare 

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👶 Early Childhood (Ages 0-5)

Guidance for early childhood media use. 

• Early Childhood Mental Health and Media Use
  Children and Screens Tip Sheet
  
  

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💡 Expert Tips & Guides 

Trusted voices offering insights and free tools. 

• Spark & Stitch Institute – Parenting Blog and Insights
  sparkandstitchinstitute.com
  
  

• Free Parent Guides
  Spark & Stitch Free Resources

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