By Tracey Dowdy

February is Black History Month, a time when we focus on the achievements of black Americans and the integral role they have played in American history. Its origins stretch all the way back to 1926, when Carter G. Woodson and Rev. Jesse E. Moorland and founded The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, choosing the second week of February because it coincided with both Abraham Lincoln’s and Fredrick Douglas’ birthdays. In 1976, Gerald Ford designated the entire month of February as Black History Month, allowing us the opportunity to reflect, learn and examine the impact African Americans have made and continue to make on the world.

These apps are a great way to learn more about African American history.

There is no doubt Alabama was at the center of the Civil Rights Movement. The Alabama Civil Rights Trail app lets you explore civil rights landmarks across the state by visiting cities like Montgomery, Tuskegee, Selma, and Birmingham and explore an interactive timeline that shows you what it was like to live under Jim Crow Laws and segregation. It includes biographies of key figures like Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as well as information on places to visit to learn more about them. (Free – iOS/Android)

Covering everything from ancient civilizations to modern times, the Black History Month “BHM” Trivia Game will challenge and entertain you while you learn about key figures from Black history. Every game is different, as questions are randomly sorted and users choose between three levels – Easy, Normal, and Hard. The developers are constantly sourcing new trivia, so make sure you keep up with updates. (Free with in-app purchases – iOS)

Instead of reading about history or playing a trivia game, how about learning through music? The SFT Black History Radio app has over 50 songs that celebrate African American culture and its heroes like Sojourner Truth, Jackie Robinson and Harriet Tubman. It’s primarily geared toward younger kids (grades 2-6) but is certainly not limited to those ages. ($0.99 – iOS/Android)

The Martin Luther King Jr. Biography and Quotes app offers a comprehensive look at his life, views, ministry, leadership in the civil rights movement and the legacy he left behind. With a biography and database of his quotes, this is an essential app for teaching about the life and legacy of Dr. King. (Free – iOS)

The Martin Luther King Jr Quotes app gives you the opportunity to be inspired by Dr. King every day. The app features hundreds of inspiring quotes that can be sent as a notification on a daily basis or bookmarked for later reflection. The app works offline, can be listened to through Android’s built-in Text-to-Speech synthesizer, or shared via email, text, and social media. (Free – Android)

NMAAHC Mobile Stories is designed as a companion app for your visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. For its opening, the museum features five sets of stories: Building, Exhibition, Stories for Families, Outdoor and Stories with Multi-Media, each focusing on a different aspect of the museum’s development and exhibits. The app also includes maps, directions, hours, and other helpful information to help you make the most of your visit. (Free – iOS/Android)

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.

Tracey Dowdy

Well, we’re past the half-way mark in January. How many of your New Year’s Resolutions have you kept up? That many? Good for you!

Kicking off the new year with diet and healthy eating plans, exercise routines and gym memberships is pretty common. But instead of just setting goals for your body, how about setting goals for your family?

These simple tips can help.

Put those devices down. Device free dinners have become popular as more and more families see the importance of real-life, face to face, honest to goodness, old-fashioned conversation. If you’re stuck for topics, try ice-breakers like “Best Thing/Worst Thing”, “Three Wishes”, or ask imaginative questions like “If you could have any super-power, what would it be?”

Create a Family Technology Contract. A family technology contract, specifically tailored to your family, is a great way to set standards. Let your kids have input and allow them to help you set reasonable boundaries and consequences. Participation equals ownership so your kids will be more receptive to both the rules and the consequences of breaking them.

Make the most of your time. The goal isn’t to eliminate technology; it’s to make the most of it. For example, if you’ve set boundaries on the amount of time your child has with a device, help them make the most of those minutes by finding quality shows or games. Frankly, the older they get the less influence you will have, but by curating what your little ones see, you can ensure they’re learning while they’re entertained.

Find movies, games, and music you can enjoy together. Scroll through home movies and photos stored on your devices or in the clouds; watch a documentary about children in other countries to learn about other cultures; or play a video game together, even though you know your child is going to kick your tail and win every time.

Teach discernment. Fake news has become a news story itself. Teach your children to be discerning about everything they read online and to be active fact-checkers. Help them understand that just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s true.

Remember what Grandpa Dowdy said. My father-in-law is one of the wisest men I’ve ever known. One of his favorite sayings is “Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?” and I can’t think of a better approach to social media than those three questions. Remind your kids – and yourself – to be mindful of everything they post online. If any of those three criteria aren’t met, perhaps it’s best to leave it unsaid.

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.

By Tracey Dowdy

Choosing your child’s first phone can seem like a daunting proposition. You may be tempted to walk into the store and look around, perhaps chat with the sales staff and make your decision then. A better idea is to do a little research, narrow down your top choices, and then head to the store.

As you do your research and compare everything from color options to carrier, focus on these primary areas:

Price. Does your eight-year-old have his eye on an iPhone 7 Plus? Better yet, does an eight-year-old need a $749 phone? When selecting the phone, remember you’re not just paying for the hardware. You’ll be paying for a monthly plan as well as potentially covering cost of data, insurance, game and app purchases. That already expensive phone just got even more expensive.

Operating system. The big three operating systems – Windows, iOS, Android – all offer excellent options. But before you buy, consider what platform you and the rest of the family are using. For example, my family all use iPhones, which allow us to share iMessages without using our data plan. No matter which platform you use, it’s a good idea to stick to the same for everyone in your plan, as things like calendars, music, apps, or even parental controls may not be compatible across platforms.

Durability. Let’s face it, that phone is going to get dropped – probably a lot. It’ll get chucked in a backpack that gets dropped on the floor, shoved in a back pocket and sat on, and tossed in a locker. Start with a durable phone. Some are shock proof and water resistant up to six feet – believe me when I say that’s more important than you realize – and invest in a screen protector and a good case like an Otter Box.

Size. Little hands, little phone. It just makes sense. If the phone is too large to grip easily, it will be dropped more often. On the other hand, if the numbers on the key pad or letters on the touch screen are too small, your child will likely be frustrated and not use the phone when they should. This is when it’s a good idea to have your child accompany you and give their input.

Security. Consider whether the phone allows password protection. If it’s a basic phone, it may not be an issue, but if your child is going to store personal information, you’ll want to ensure a level of security. What kind of parental controls are you looking for? iOS has a comprehensive suite of parental controls and Android offers Parental Controls through the Google Play store. Review them and see which best meets your needs. Finally, GPS tracking may not seem like a big issue but it will allow you to find your child when they aren’t picking up your calls or responding to your texts.

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.

By Tracey Dowdy

A Family Technology Contract can be a powerful tool in establishing boundaries and set your family up for success instead of frustration and tears.

And because the holidays mean new devices for many of us, there’s no time like the present – get it, the present? as in time and gift – to set some boundaries for its use.

The best approach to establishing boundaries is to make your agreement a partnership between you and your child. By involving your child and explaining the reasons behind the rules, he or she will take ownership and be more likely to comply with the guidelines. And, because the agreement requires commitment from you, your child will be more likely to see this as a fair and balanced arrangement.

PRIVACY
Child – I will not share private information including my phone number, address, name of my school, parents, or siblings without my parents’ consent.
Parent – I will carefully monitor the sites and apps my child is interested in and ensure our privacy settings are up to date to provide the safest online experience possible.

TIME LIMITS
Child – I will respect the time limits set for me and understand technology use is a privilege. I will not neglect my homework, chores, extra-curricular activities, or family time, and understand they always come first.
Parent – I will set reasonable time limits and understand if my child sometimes needs additional time. I will listen respectfully and may allow additional time if we both agree the privilege has been earned and is appropriate.

BEHAVIOR
Child – I will not say anything online I would not say to someone face to face. I understand bullying is just as wrong online as in the real world and I will not comment or share anything that would hurt another person.
Parent – I will monitor my child’s behavior and deal with inappropriate behavior immediately whether my child is the aggressor or the victim. I hold the same online behavior standards for myself.

SAFETY
Child – If someone says something to me online that makes me feel uncomfortable or unsafe I will tell my parents right away.
Parent – I will not blame or shame my child if someone makes them feel unsafe, even if my child has broken the rules in our technology agreement. I will help my child safely remove himself from the conversation or situation and will always protect him.

 FRIENDS
Child – I will not agree to meet someone I have been talking to online without talking to my parents first. If my parents say we can meet, I will ask my parents to come along and we will meet in a safe, public location.
Parent – I will monitor my child’s online friendships and I reserve the right to end any relationships that I deem unsafe or unhealthy.

PASSWORDS
Child – I will not share passwords without my parents’ consent.
Parents – I will set secure, complex passwords that cannot easily be hacked.

PARENTALCONTROLS
Child – I will not download, purchase or update software, apps, games, or anything else without my parents’ consent.
Parents – I will set up parental controls and ensure they are up to date so that my child cannot accidentally update, purchase or download without my consent or assistance.

SUPPORT
Child – I will be patient with my parents if they don’t understand a game, app or anything else I am doing online.
Parents – I will do my best to stay up to date with trends in technology and be respectful of games, apps or websites my child is interested in even if I don’t understand them.

Tracey Dowdy is a freelance writer based just outside Washington DC. After years working for non-profits and charities, she now freelances, edits and researches on subjects ranging from family and education to history and trends in technology. Follow Tracey on Twitter.