Gloria, founder of The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) and author of Parenting Well in a Media Age, talks with PCI Coach Arlene Angle owner of the parent coaching practice, Another Angle on Parenting. Arlene has a background as an early childhood educator and directed her own school before pursuing parent coaching with the Parent Coaching Institute. Arlene is also a mom of two and brings her parenting experience to her work with moms and dads in each coaching session.

In this podcast, Arlene shares how she and her husband reacted when her fifteen-year old daughter, Cody, was being bullied by “friends” on Facebook. We also hear about her daughter’s mature reaction that helped the situation turn around for the positive in a short time.
Gloria asks about the possible reasons for Cody’s mature response and together they focus on what parents do to help teens navigate social media successfully:

Taking the time to talk with Cody about how she is perceiving the situation—this meant listening deeply and not showing our fear and rushing in with an untimely solution.

Being supportive without being smothering—this is a fine line that requires insight and trust in our teen, along with working hard to understand what our teen needs at the time to make the best choices possible.

A focus on developing your teens’ unique talents so that she grows a strong self-identity, acquiring skills for resisting peer pressure.

Family rules with devices that all family members participate in so that your teen knows your priorities and that you live them—you don’t just talk about them.

With clear boundaries, priorities, and support teens can navigate social media successfully and use it for socializing and for learning about socializing!