Fostering Success, LLC

EVERY...SINGLE...TIME I teach my 5th-grade Human Growth & Development class a child says something to me about social media that makes me cringe. PARENTS....13 IS NOT THE MAGIC NUMBER for allowing social media! Here is a clip, read the full post below.

"Unfortunately, parents are misguided—13 is not the age of online maturity. 👎 The age of 13 requirement was set up in 1998 before social media was even invented—four years before Facebook and seven years before the iPhone. 😳 The 1998 COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) law determined that no online site could collect data and personal information from children under the age of 13 without a parent's consent.
👉This law had nothing to do with maturity— it was only about collecting personal data."

🤔Q: Don't social media platforms say that 13 is the age of maturity for kids?

💪A: "Some parents may believe that 13-years-old is the age of digital maturity for social media and for giving a smartphone because that age requirement is listed on social media platforms.

Parents are led to believe this age requirement is like movie and video game ratings, meaning that 13-year-olds should be mature enough to handle the content that social media companies allow.

Makes sense right?

Unfortunately, parents are misguided—13 is not the age of online maturity. 👎

The age of 13 requirement was set up in 1998 before social media was even invented—four years before Facebook and seven years before the iPhone. 😳

The 1998 COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) law determined that no online site could collect data and personal information from children under the age of 13 without a parent's consent.

👉This law had nothing to do with maturity— it was only about collecting personal data.

Because it is too complicated to collect parental consent for kids under 13, social media companies now rate their platforms 13+ as the age requirement simply so they won’t be fined $42,000 per violation.

BUT, if the child lies about their age, the data can legally still be collected with no fine. 😐

Imagine what would happen if every parent knew this fact? Most would not allow social media through adolescence. The data is overwhelming on how damaging it is to this age group."

—Melanie Hempe, BSN, ScreenStrong Founder

The Dahlonega Square: One of 5 "Best Places in Georgia to Celebrate Christmas and New Years" (AJC 2016) and "Top 20 Events - Old Fashioned Christmas" (Southeast Tourism Society 2004). Check out all of the family-friendly🌲🎅 activities taking place in Dahlonega throughout December!! And, I happen to know the coziest little lake-front 🏡 nearby for your group to stay while you're enjoying the magic of Christmas!! **See the listing link in the comments below for availability.**

Dahlonega's Old Fashioned Christmas Make memories with family and friends! Christmas is a magical time of year in Dahlonega and throughout Lumpkin county! You’ll find the shops, restaurants and inns all shine in their holiday finest. For EVENT QUESTIONS: View the event on the calendar and click the Organizer's link for their contact...

Fall is a great time to spend a weekend in North GA with all the 🍁 changing and temperatures ⬇️ inferno status! And, I happen to know a great little 🏡 right on Lake Lanier! 😉 Here’s what’s coming up 📆:

🔸Oct 2: Foxfire Mountaineer Festival
🔸Oct 8-16: GA Mountain Fall Festival
🔸Oct 9-10 & 16-17: GA Apple Festival
🔸Oct 16-17: Gold Rush Days

Click the link👇🏻to check availability and rates!

NEW! Family House on Lake Lanier w/ Private Dock! | Evolve Rent this vacation home in Dawsonville, GA – Sleeps 8 guests • 5 Bedrooms • 3 Bathrooms • $540 avg/night • Read 2 reviews and view 35 photos! Look forward to exploring Lake Lanier on kayak, jumping off the boat dock, and relaxing on the screened-in porch, all at this 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom ...

Parents, this is such an important read! Every time I teach my Human Growth & Development class to 5th graders I emphasize how "it is never, never, never okay to take or send pictures of your private parts." I tell them it is not honoring themselves, it is ILLEGAL and it is dangerous. I also remind them their brains aren't fully developed until they are 25 y/o which means they are often not able to process the kinds of interactions that take place over digital communications (texts, social media, gaming, etc.). Please have these conversations with your kids. Please tell them that no matter what they may have done on a device that you WILL protect them and you will help them through whatever situation they might find themselves in. PLEASE, for the love of the children. TALK TO THEM!

Remembering Riley Basford after internet blackmail pushed him to ‘split second of madness’ The family of Riley Basford says the 15 year old was a victim of internet blackmail before he took his own life.

What happens when 🌎 Autism Day and GOOD Friday ✝️ fall on the SAME day? This! (posted w/ permission from Vance & his mom, Kelley Colihan Robertson)

Me: So today is a pretty significant day for two reasons. Can you guess what they are?

Vance: MOM SAID TODAY IS WORLD AUTISM DAY.

Me: So if today is world autism awareness day, what is something you want the world to know about you and/or your peers?

Vance: I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT I AM MY OWN PERSON AND PLEASE TREAT ME WITH RESPECT.

*We had some back and forth about Good Friday and did a short lesson on the significance of today and I read Vance Jesus' last 7 words on earth which were: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46

Me: What do you think about those last 7 words Jesus spoke?

Vance: I THINK JESUS PLANNED TO SAY THOSE WORDS SO WE WOULD DO THE SAME.

Folks, let's be like Jesus and Vance. Let's be our own selves and expect respect from others. And let's commit our spirits to Jesus. It is a GOOD Friday indeed! 🙏🏻

Such a great example of how hiring managers and companies are recognizing the unique talents of autistic individuals! When everyone has a seat at the table, we ALL benefit!

Watch 60 Minutes: Companies seeking employees with autism - Full show on CBS All Access

Another good explanation of why "Cuties" should be removed from Netflix (and from the earth)! AND, if you aren't following the organization, Enough is Enough, DO SO! It takes a village to raise a child and organizations like these do an incredible job of keeping watch over our children's best interest!

Enough Is Enough: Parents Beware: "Cuties" is a Tox Brew of Sexual Exploitation and Child Objectification The

PARENT WARNING: PARENT WARNING: For the love of all that is good, please make sure your Netflix filters would prevent your children from accessing this film! I am posting an article from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation that explains why this is so very inappropriate. Unfortunately, I saw a post earlier (opposing it) with clips from the film that I cannot UN-see.

Netflix Promotes Sexualization of Children, Racist Stereotypes with New Film 'Cuties' - National Center on Sexual Exploitation A sexualized image should never be the price for mainstream success in media, and it certainly shouldn’t be spreading so low as to affect 11 year old children in the process.

PARENT WARNING: Watch this news segment on the dangers of exposure to inappropriate content on Roblox (both in the “normal” and “dark side” of the game). Don’t think your kids can code? Elementary schools all over this country have coding classes and clubs! They know how to code!

Watch CBS This Morning: Inappropriate Roblox content raises concern - Full show on CBS All Access 1:02 Never-before-seen video of Tom Petty at home A new video of Tom Petty's "Wildflowers" features never-before-seen footage of the songwriter at home during the recording of the album by the same name. Petty's estate is releasing "Wildflowers and All The Rest -- Deluxe Edition" on October 16. The....

Parents!! With many school systems pushing back the 2020-2021 start date, you have more time to PREP FOR THE TALKS!! Trust me, you do NOT want your child's first 🐦 & 🐝 talk to be with another kid on the bus!! Check out the July virtual workshop dates ⬇️ and register today!!

Such a fun day being interviewed on my friend Corri English Bentli’s podcast, Hi My Name Is Mom! We talk all things 🐦 & 🐝 from anatomically correct vocabulary with toddlers all the way up to conception! Check out the episode below and subscribe!

‎Hi My Name Is Mom: The Birds and the Bees - How To Have "The Talk" With Your Kids on Apple Podcasts ‎Show Hi My Name Is Mom, Ep The Birds and the Bees - How To Have "The Talk" With Your Kids - Jun 9, 2020

PARENTS! Quarantined children = you have MORE influence over what you're kids are hearing about the 🐦 & 🐝 than OTHER KIDS ON THE BUS! Don't have a game plan in place? Register for one of my June workshops, and let's develop your toolkit together! See ⬇️ for more info!