Most kids in the US now have access to an Internet-connected device—a phone, a tablet, or a laptop. And they are really amazing! Your device allows you to do things your parents wouldn’t have dreamed of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have access to powerful tools, all contained in a tiny box. But here’s a problem: Many kids forget that tools are theirs to use, and they let their tools use them<\/em> instead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine you decided to build a box. So you got out a hammer, some nails, and some pieces of plywood. Sounds like you’re ready to go, right? But then, your hammer decides that you’re building a chair instead!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wait, hammers can’t do that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n But modern devices can. When we start letting our devices tell us what to watch, who to talk to, and what to create, we’re giving them a power we’ve never given our tools before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, first of all, it’s not all bad<\/em>. I bet you’ve had the experience that you’ve watched a video and got a recommendation for another video that you really liked. And that’s your tool telling you what to watch, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n But a lot of it is really bad. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every time you find yourself doing what your device tells you to do, whether it’s your device serving up content to you, or pushing you to take part in a fad, or connecting you with people you don’t know IRL<\/a>, step back. Take a breath. Remember it’s a tool and you can turn. it. off. <\/strong>(So there, tool!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re in a small amount of trouble, the worst thing you can do is hide it. Why? Because small amounts of trouble have a sneaky habit<\/a> of turning into big trouble when you try to go it alone. Say you find yourself watching videos when you’re supposed to be doing homework, or you are being bothered online and it’s really upsetting you. You need to talk to someone, preferably a caring adult. If it’s too hard to talk to a parent, talk to an older sibling, a teacher, a coach—anyone who you know has your back.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m a huge fan of goal-setting, and this is a perfect use for it. If your tool has been using you, consider some attainable<\/a> goals<\/em> that you can set. What’s an attainable<\/a> goal? Well, let’s look at some of the examples above:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I was a kid, if I wanted to make a movie, I would have to record on film, get the film processed, then literally cut the film with a razor and splice pieces together with tape! Now you know why in my whole childhood, I only ever made one film. (It was a film of the Dr. Seuss book The Sneetches<\/em> translated to German, by the way.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n My kids got to make videos on their laptops, so they did it all the time. You all are SO lucky to have these tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But remember: when you use a hammer, you have a responsibility not to hurt yourself or others with that hammer. And the same goes for your modern digital tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How can you be sure that you use your digital devices wisely… and that you don’t let them use YOU?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"http:\/\/sukiwessling.com\/kidblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Use-your-tools.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"http:\/\/sukiwessling.com\/kidblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/KidsLearn-UseYourTools.jpg","cover_image_id":"920","duration":"7:23","filesize":"13.86M","filesize_raw":"14535669","date_recorded":"2025-04-09 22:31:50","explicit":"","block":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[17],"tags":[70,69,71,18,72],"series":[66],"class_list":["post-906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-being-a-kid","tag-art","tag-creativity","tag-devices","tag-internet","tag-phones","series-kidslearn"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\tHow can a tool use you<\/em>?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why is this bad?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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What can we do to be in control of our tools?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
#1: Remember it’s a tool!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#2: Get support!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
#3: Set goals!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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So if you read something in a chat thread, check it out. In general, you simply can’t trust a piece of information that a single person spreads online, but you can trust information on websites where they have a process of verification<\/a>.<\/em> So don’t trust a “news” website that never admits they’re wrong; do trust a news website that publishes their errors and corrects their articles. Don’t trust a “wiki” where anyone can post anything they like; do trust, for example, Wikipedia, to try to verify the information on their pages. Don’t trust some person who made a video; do trust PBS Kids, Ted-Ed, or other reputable<\/a> video sources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Instead of saying, ‘someday I want to learn how to use that video-making app but I don’t have time,’ put it on your calendar! Get a supportive adult to help you find a way to carve out time and hold yourself accountable<\/a><\/em>. You might have to spend less time gaming, for example, but it will be worth it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
When you’re online, it can be tempting to form friendships with people who, let’s face it, might not be who they say they are. Or heck, these days they might not even be people<\/em>! See if you can find kids in your community who are involved in activities you enjoy, and connect with them online<\/em>—or just spend more time with them IRL<\/a>. If you have interests or needs that are different from the kids you know, find organizations that host safe ways for kids to connect with other kids who have shared interests. A trusted adult can help you with this.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nThen enjoy your magnificent tools!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enjoy your creativity!<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"