3 RESOLUTIONS TO CONSIDER THIS UPCOMING YEAR SOME OF DR. BROOKS’ GOALS FOR 2019
SOCIALLY SECURE SOCIAL MEDIA REMINDERS FOR PARENTS Social media has been making the world smaller than ever. The distance among cross-country relatives and friends shrinks with each post or Skype call. And instant updates from loved ones are particularly valuable during the holidays. That Christmas morning video call means Grandma and Grandpa get to see their grandkids in their new holiday outfits, but so can online predators. According to digital and safety experts, half of the photos filtered onto the darknet are stolen from parents’ social media accounts. If these predators are privy to your photos, they’re also able to snag your location and other sensitive information, putting you and your children at physical risk as well. On a less disturbing note, social media content is permanent. Even after you delete a post or a photo, it leaves a digital footprint that could follow your child throughout their education and could even affect job interviews or future relationships. It’s still possible for you to foster a sense of privacy in the digital age, but it’s important to respect what your child deems private information. After all, it’s their future. Consider these rules before you share. 1. ASK YOUR CHILD’S PERMISSION. If they can speak, then they can speak for themselves. Children love to see photos of themselves, but they may also be aware of what they are and aren’t comfortable with, even at a young age. 2. LIMIT THE NUDITY. Everyone loves a beach day, but think twice before posting swimsuit or skinny-dipping pictures. Opt to post safer photos, like the family posing prior to fun in the sun. 3. CHECK YOUR SETTINGS. Your privacy settings may be exposing your family to more people than you know, and if you feel the need to share every minute of your child’s day online, making these settings airtight will protect your children and their reputations. 1. TINYBEANS.COM is a secure photo-sharing website for parents of babies and young children. The digital photo album app allows you to share photos with only the people you choose. 2. CREATE A SEPARATE, SECURE GROUP ON FACEBOOK. Family, friends, or coworkers in closed groups can still fawn over their little ones in a personal, safe setting. Despite the dangers your digital life can elicit, you don’t have to avoid the digital world completely. Social media is still a great tool for families to stay connected, as long as you take precautions. Go ahead and brag about your kids online — just be safe and considerate of your child’s wishes. Consider some of these safe alternatives to regular public posting:
As you start compiling your New Year’s resolutions for 2019, chances are that at one point or another, you might run out of ideas. If you need some resolution inspiration as you head into this year, Dr. Brooks has provided three goals worthy of consideration.
HAVE A FAMILY NIGHT
When you have a young family, it’s easy to get so caught up in the chaos of just getting through the day (cooking meals, running errands, giving baths, etc.) that you can’t find time to sit down as a family and spend some time together. As a father of four kids all under the age of 10, I know how difficult it can be to plan a family night. But it’s one of my wife’s and my most important goals. Each week, we set up a board game on the floor and play for as long as we can. Sometimes we even set a timer for 20 or 30 minutes. The game usually gets trampled on by tiny feet, and no one ever “wins” it, but we get to spend quality time together as a family.
LAUGH MORE
It seems that now more than ever, people are under a lot of stress in their lives. To deal with stress, I focus on laughing more. No matter how bad the situation, I try to find something positive. I have a patient who exemplifies this idea better than anyone I’ve met. For example, she is in her mid-80s, and one day, she came into the office on crutches. She grabbed her leg, placed it up on the dental chair, and said, “I don’t know if the leg got me here or if I drug it along behind me!” With the dreary weather this time of year, many people find it difficult to remember the good aspects of their lives. It happens to all of us. One thing I do when I’m feeling down is set a timer for five minutes, grab a pen and paper, and make a list of things I’m thankful for. After just five minutes, I find that I feel a lot better. FIND A WAY TO BE THANKFUL
2 • WWW.ATOWNDENTAL.COM
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