Let's Chat About Group Chats...
The group chat tends to be the gateway to our kids’ online social lives. It seems harmless (just on the old iPad), inclusive (half the grade is involved), and like a helpful step towards independence (suddenly they’re able to communicate with friends on their own).
But many parents quickly discover challenges they hadn’t anticipated like FOMO, fighting, anxiety, bullying, inappropriate content, and more.
Before your kid gets kicked off the group chat permanently, and you’re left scrambling to figure out how to do damage control, join us for a workshop during which you’ll learn how to:
explain the principles of texting etiquette
create healthy time limits
monitor messages in a respectful way
communicate with other parents
develop a plan (and consequences) for misuse
We’ll wrap with a Q&A during which parents can talk through tricky situations, share what’s worked (or hasn’t), and connect with others who are navigating the same unfamiliar territory.
This program is hosted by Milton School’s Digital Wellness Committee and led by Sarah Gallagher Trombley, digital parenting author, speaker and thought leader. Her mission is to help parents navigate the digital world with and for their kids by providing insight, advice and practical tips. Her work and messages cover a wide range of digital topics including digital house rules, parental controls, social media, and choosing devices.
Sarah has reached thousands of parents through her popular newsletter, Thoughts From A Digital Mom, as well as through speaking events and social accounts. Sarah currently holds a strategic advisor role on the Board of Wait Until 8th.
Location: Milton School Cafeteria — please bring photo ID and allow a little extra time for security check-in
RSVPs are helpful but not required for attendance.
IRL Community Meeting - Rye Neck Chapter
How to Transition …
Going to Bellows? Headed to Middle School? These are big life transitions for you and your kids.
This Community Meeting we will come together to reflect on the transitions in our kids’ lives. How can we, as parents, provide increased independence for our kids, while ensuring they develop a healthy, age appropriate relationship with technology? Come join us to reflect, discuss & develop ways to tackle this as a community.
Location: 7 Sunset Road, Rye, NY 10580
If you aren’t able to join us live:
Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 662 626 6654
Passcode: IRL
RSVP below:
IRL Community Meeting - Rye Chapter
Please join our final community meeting of the 2024-2025 school year. We’ll discuss upcoming events, the newly re-launched IRL Pledge, and brainstorm next year’s calendar of events.
Rye Location: 22 Byrd Street
RSVP below:
Alternative Device Fair - Ok To Delay, Darien
And another opportunity to catch a local Alternative Device Fair!
OK To Delay’s Darien chapter and The Depot are hosting a wonderful spring event as 5th grade graduation and other end of year celebrations quickly approach!
We all know the devastating effects smartphones and social media are having on our young children, but we also know the days of pay phones are over and many family’s need a safe option to communicate with their children. Enter: alternative devices!
Representatives will be onsite from companies including Bark, Pinwheel, dumbwireless, and Troomi who make incredible safe alternatives to smartphones.
Invite your friends and neighbors to learn more about these devices, explore them hands-on, and make informed decisions for the safety of our children.
We hope to see you there!!
Location: The Depot, 25 Heights Rd, Darien
Alternative Device Fair - Ok To Delay, Westport
Hosted by Ok To Delay’s Westport chapter, this is an opportunity to research various types of devices, meet representatives from the companies, and mingle with other like-minded parents.
Come on your own or bring the kids. It’s well worth the drive!
Location: The Westport Library
IRL Rye Community Meeting - April
Cue the slow clap… Because we’re gearing up for a big moment: the re-launch of our annual pledge! Join us for a community meeting where we’ll strategize, rally, and plan a bit of organized chaos (the good kind) to kick off Pledge Week. And yes, there will be togas.
Location: 70 Stuyvesant Ave, Rye
If you aren’t able to join us live:
Zoom link
Meeting ID: 820 1842 5111
Passcode: IRL
optional RSVP below:
Childhood 2.0: Documentary Screening + Q&A
Get in the car, we’re going to the movies for an encore private screening of Childhood 2.0 followed by a Q&A with Titania Jordan, featured in the film.
This is a must-see documentary for parenting in the digital age; with insights from experts and first-hand accounts from kids & families on cyberbullying, sexting, online predators & more…
Attendance is free and includes a popcorn & soda. Reserve your comfy reclining seat at the Mamaroneck Cinemas with an RSVP below, which will help us determine which sized theater to reserve. Our last screening was standing room only!
Heard In Rye - Let Grow's "Always Helping Kids Isn't Always Helping Them"
We’re thrilled to promote this upcoming program from Heard In Rye, taking place at the Rye Free Reading Room.
Let Grow is leading the movement for childhood independence. Somehow our culture has become obsessed with kids’ fragility and lost sight of their innate resilience. This concern grew out of good intentions! But treating kids as fragile is making them so. In fact, kids are “anti-fragile” — built not just to withstand some challenges, but to grow stronger once they do. That’s why Let Grow is creating a new path for parents, schools, and America itself. Let Grow programs, outreach, and thought leadership focus not just on explaining where our culture took a wrong turn, but on real-world ways to get our kids back to having some adventures, solving some problems, and blossoming.
Register through HEARD IN RYE
Learn more at LET GROW
IRL Community Zoom Meeting - February
Note: updated meeting time!
This month our meeting will be fully remote. As you unpack from winter break, zoom in to stay informed about IRL’s various current and upcoming initiatives.
Login info below:
Rye Chapter
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86157966855?pwd=QW53NALaK2o9nhFn6uuf4AKudQ0SYX.1
Meeting ID: 861 5796 6855
Passcode: IRL
Rye Neck Chapter
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/6626266654?pwd=7nhtlamY8UdLOEZC99ArtW8htMMNIT.1&omn=82463182070
Passcode: IRL
Childhood 2.0: Documentary Screening + Q&A
To watch anytime at home or share with others who missed our screening, stream Childhood 2.0 online for free HERE. This is a must-see documentary for parenting in the digital age; with insights from experts and first-hand accounts from kids & families on cyberbullying, sexting, online predators & more…
Pro tip: IRL community members have found it valuable to watch alongside their middle schoolers especially if they’re already on social media or don’t get why their parents are being so annoying about it!
IRL Community Meeting - January
Note: *new date* of Monday, January 13th
Please join our first monthly meeting of the new year to help plan upcoming events and strategize for what’s to come. Is volunteering one of your resolutions? Because we’ve got work to do! Or just come for the sparkling conversation and leftover fruitcake…
Meeting locations:
Rye Neck Chapter: 7 Sunset Rd, Rye
Rye Chapter: 70 Stuyvesant Ave
or by Zoom: Join Here
Meeting ID: 879 3133 3195
Passcode: IRL
RSVP below:
Alternative Device Fair
Location: Rye Recreation, 281 Midland Ave, Rye, NY
Just in time for Black Friday, this is some of the most important shopping you’ve been meaning to check off your list… Before defaulting to an iPhone or Apple Watch, stop by to learn about various kid-safe devices before the holidays (or for down the road when it’s time)! We’ll have representatives on hand to answer your questions and help you determine which device is best for your family among the following phones and watches:
Gabb
Pinwheel
Lightphone
Wisephone
Bark
Troomi
Loftie
All are welcome to come explore the various options, booth by booth. Food trucks will be onsite, as is the playground to entertain kids so parents can wander the device fair uninterrupted. And don’t miss your chance to enter a raffle to win the device of your choosing or a screen-free gift.
IRL Community Zoom Meeting
This month our meeting will be fully remote. Zoom in to help fine tune the two events next week and strategize IRL’s rapid expansion and priorities for the year ahead!
Login info below:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85607561507?pwd=uCZTh4Hm2Fe7cjXNFL2PybUumHH9cu.1
Meeting ID: 856 0756 1507
Passcode: IRL
Jay Day
Thanks for visiting IRL’s booth at the Jay Heritage Center on Jay Day! We hope you’re putting those decorated cell phone sleeping bags to good use and enjoying more device-free meals at home.
If you didn’t get to swing by, stay tuned for future IRL cameos around town…
Rye Youth Council & IRL-Rye present: Max Stossel
Max Stossel is an award winning poet, filmmaker and speaker, named by Forbes as one of the best storytellers of the year. He founded Social Awakening: an organization dedicated to helping young people survive and thrive in the modern world.
Before working in this field, Max was a media strategist with an extensive background in social media. He ran social media for big brands, and later worked for a social media company where he designed notifications to distract people.
He has spent the past seven years speaking with 100,000+ students, parents, and educators around the world about social media's impact on our lives, and creating resources to help manage that impact.
We were thrilled to partner with Rye Youth Council on this impactful event and hope you find the following related resources helpful:
Coffee with Katey McPherson: continuing the conversation
As shared during this program, following are Katey’s top recommended resources:
GREAT PARENTING PODCAST:
drrobynsilverman.com
https://www.drlisadamour.com/podcast/
DOCUMENTARY:
90 MINUTES OF RELEVANT INFO
childhood2movie.com OR YOUTUBE.COM (SEARCH CHILDHOOD 2.0)
This is a MUST watch for parents alone and then if appropriate kids 13+ too. It is tweens and teens giving THEIR view of how hard this world is with devices and bullying/etc. It is an amazing conversation starter.
FAMILY SCREEN TIME CONTRACT
See attached examples below, thousands of others on internet. The other by HEALTHYSCREENHEABITS.COM Staff.
WEBSITES ON SCREEN TIME AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND TUTORIALS:
KATEY'S FAVORITE BOOKS ON BOYS, GIRLS, AND SCREEN TIME:
How To Raise A Boy
Saving Our Sons
Untangled
Under Pressure
The Self-Driven Child
What Do You Say? How to motivate, reduce stress, and create a happy home"
Glow Kids
The Teen Brain
BARK AND OTHER APPS:
BARK.US ( Use Discount code KATEY20 for 20% off)
GO GUARDIAN
MM GUARDIAN
OUR PACT
QUSTODIO
ROUTERS:
GRYPHON
EERO PLUS
BARK HOME
WHERE TO FIND ME:
I am in the trenches with you! Here to help if I can, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Your kids are MY kids! Let's advocate for our village :)
“Send Nudes”: a screening of Childhood 2.0 and Q&A
As shared during this program, following are Katey’s top recommended resources:
GREAT PARENTING PODCAST:
drrobynsilverman.com
https://www.drlisadamour.com/podcast/
DOCUMENTARY:
90 MINUTES OF RELEVANT INFO
childhood2movie.com OR YOUTUBE.COM (SEARCH CHILDHOOD 2.0)
This is a MUST watch for parents alone and then if appropriate kids 13+ too. It is tweens and teens giving THEIR view of how hard this world is with devices and bullying/etc. It is an amazing conversation starter.
FAMILY SCREEN TIME CONTRACT
See attached examples below, thousands of others on internet. The other by HEALTHYSCREENHEABITS.COM Staff.
WEBSITES ON SCREEN TIME AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND TUTORIALS:
KATEY'S FAVORITE BOOKS ON BOYS, GIRLS, AND SCREEN TIME:
How To Raise A Boy
Saving Our Sons
Untangled
Under Pressure
The Self-Driven Child
What Do You Say? How to motivate, reduce stress, and create a happy home"
Glow Kids
The Teen Brain
BARK AND OTHER APPS:
BARK.US ( Use Discount code KATEY20 for 20% off)
GO GUARDIAN
MM GUARDIAN
OUR PACT
QUSTODIO
ROUTERS:
GRYPHON
EERO PLUS
BARK HOME
WHERE TO FIND ME:
I am in the trenches with you! Here to help if I can, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Your kids are MY kids! Let's advocate for our village :)