Presence has never been harder or more needed – in this age of hyper transparency, connection, opinion and information, all in a media environment that's networked, so that "speed of delivery" is a calculation of the past (it's all just here already). Presence is needed by adults as much as children. It means different things to different people, including "attentiveness," "focus," and … [Read more...] about For our kids & ourselves: Presence in a digital age
mindfulness
What’s (importantly) different about Snapchat
It's not what you might think – or what you might've read in the news. What makes Snapchat stand out in the crowd of social media apps, in fact what makes it "matter," as social media researcher danah boyd put it, "has to do with how it treats attention." Snapchat users don't just swipe through a gazillion photos in a stream or album. The app doesn't work that way. They actually pause and pay … [Read more...] about What’s (importantly) different about Snapchat
For families: ‘Digital detox’ vs connecting mindfully
It takes a lot more than "digital sabbaths" to become grounded, but it sounds like the creators of Camp Grounded in northern California get that. I think. As described by writer Matt Haber in the New York Times, the three days were as gluten-free as they were tech-free and packed with activities aimed at human connection, if not so much reflection. "Designed less to be a spiritual journey than a … [Read more...] about For families: ‘Digital detox’ vs connecting mindfully
Holiday shopping sampler
A little info from the material side of this season…. USATODAY's gift guide pulls together a collection of articles about everything from what gadgets you don't want to bother with to Top 10 videogame picks for kids to apps to give or help yourself shop more efficiently. There are plenty of reviews of tempting digital devices. And speaking of those, the iPhone was the most-searched term at Yahoo … [Read more...] about Holiday shopping sampler
Mindfulness for safety as well as success online
As long as there has been a "we" we've had the human drama running in the background of our lives – sometimes in the foreground and even raging in our heads. Social media mirror it, sometimes mass-distribute it, and definitely help keep the drama on the screens of our consciousness 24/7. That goes for the social drama at school that can be overwhelming right when our children are exploring who … [Read more...] about Mindfulness for safety as well as success online