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
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