Welcome to the Student Fusion Parent Page (grandparents and other concerned adults are welcome too)! This page is here because I am here to walk beside you– and our church is here to walk beside you– through the tumultuous childhood, middle school, high school, and young adult years. I’m an advocate for you, and I’m here to provide resources that will help you help your teens walk closer to Jesus through the minefields of technology and culture. Some content will remain the same, while new content will be added each month! Check back monthly.
We are in this together,
Eric Gargus
eric.gargus@pvsbc.org
ACTION STEPS TO STRENGTHEN PARENTING/GRANDPARENTING/MENTORING TEENS/KIDS IN A DIGITAL WORLD:
1. Sign up for the Screen Smarts e-newsletter by following the link below. This highly informative and practical e-newsletter will give you content every week to keep you “in the know” and being proactive with your kids/teens and their screen time. This resource has been paid for by Pleasant Valley South’s Student Fusion as part of our partnership with parents.
screensmarts.org/studentfusion
2. THIS MONTH’S PARENT PAGE (DO NOT SHARE THIS LINK ON SOCIAL MEDIA):
https://ministrytoparents.com/parentpageyouth7684938264572/
Check back monthly for the latest edition!
3, SIGN UP FOR THIS FREE PARENT NEWSLETTER FROM 360FAMILY. It’s a gamechanger!
https://360family.org/contact-us/
4. SIGN UP FOR THE FREE NEWSLETTER FROM AXIS CALLED “THE CULTURE TRANSLATOR.”
https://axis.org/resource-category/culture-translator/?utm_source=google
5. SIGN UP FOR THE SMART SOCIAL NEWSLETTER for everything from current media trends to helping your kids/teens build their “online resumes” for companies who will search their online histories when considering them for employment.
https://smartsocial.com/newsletter
6. UTILIZE COMMON SENSE MEDIA’S EXTENSIVE WEB RESOURCES to help protect your family from unwanted and unwelcomed content in streaming services, on websites, and in all other facets of pop culture.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/
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BOOKS AND SECURE SMART PHONES THAT YOU CAN FIND ON AMAZON:
TECH SAAVY PARENTING by Brian Housman – a great book that gives parents practical tools with which to help their kids
https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Savvy-Parenting-Brian-Housman/dp/0892656867/ref=sr_1_1?crid=74OVDJS0NAQH&keywords=brian+housman&qid=1705957319&s=books&sprefix=brian+housman%2Cstripbooks%2C84&sr=1-1
BUILDING BETTER BRIDGES: A GUIDEBOOK TO HAVING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT CAN SAVE OUR CHILDREN by Clint Davis – a great resource for adults who want help kids/teens to not be overcome by the evil side of screen time and social media
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CG7SCN5F/ref=sw_img_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
THE AXIS FAMILY OF RESOURCES – many books that will enhance parenting when it comes to technology and current cultural trends
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Axis/author/B09WTNFFR1?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2&qid=1705957419&sr=1-2&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
GABB PHONE – secure phone with a location tracker which only allows calls and texts
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Tracker-Internet-Verizon-Coverage/dp/B0CH1HL5JF/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3RIYXYV9F23IV&keywords=gabb+phone&qid=1705956976&sprefix=gabb+phone%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-3
BARK PHONE – secure phone with internet that allows social media use:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bark/page/4C2E6B43-ADB9-4FF8-A274-54D0D765A2E3?ref_=ast_bln
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PRACTICAL [AND FREE] RESOURCES FOR YOU VIEW HERE OR DOWNLOAD:
SLIDE PRESENTATION from the 2024 “Navigating Technology with Children and Teens” Seminar at Pleasant Valley South Baptist Church with Eric Gargus)
Echosmith “Lonely Generation” video from slide presentation: https://youtu.be/lkwD4zHr03o
Dove “Cost of Beauty video from slide presentation: https://youtu.be/2ngESNoacxM
Youth Contract Pack https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/sq6i6kosflxd24ztxo5iq/Youth-Contract-Pack.zip?rlkey=6any5f1pb40n6zc3p0eyvz8z2&dl=0
This is a downloadable packet with pre-made and customizable contracts you can use with your students for accountability (coverage areas include: phones, video games, home alone, and technology).