Your teens likely already know about this function, but they can also learn about design and technology by creating their own "lenses" through the Lens Studio that they can then share with their friends. Snapchat offers the ability to participate in video calls with up to 15 friends. Google Duo is a good alternative for teens who do not have iPhones. Many teens will spend hours at a time on Facetime just doing normal, everyday things like working on homework together, or just generally hanging out. Teens with Apple devices love to use Facetime to talk "in person" with their friends. As always, make sure that your teen understands the importance of online safety and use parental controls that are appropriate for your child. But these are not normal circumstances, so for now we can put their love of technology to work to ensure that they can safely interact with their friends. To some extent it may seem a little bit surreal for us parents to urge our kids to get on their mobile devices with their friends instead of our usual struggle to get them to put their electronics aside. The good news is that there are many ways for our kids to interact with their peers from within the safety of their own home. So how do we help our tweens and teens have that much needed social contact when we are on a mandatory shelter in place order? Although that blog focused on the negative impacts of a child feeling as if they do not fit in, our young people are at risk of feeling a similar isolation while we shelter in place in order to reduce the spread of COVID-19. We discussed the fact that feeling socially isolated negatively impacts the mental health, physical health, and academic outcomes of children. Last month I wrote the blog The Others: When Kids Feel Like They Do Not Belong about how important it is that children feel as if they are part of a social group. The Importance of Social Contact for Teenagers While physical distancing is necessary for our physical health, self-isolation that can accompany social distancing can be emotionally stressful for a culture that is used to being social and being part of a community daily. That distinction is important and should not be overlooked. While these guidelines are popularly referred to as "social distancing," they are actually "physical distancing" requirements. New nationwide guidelines were just announced that social distancing should continue until at least April 30. As I sit down in my home in Illinois to write this post, we are approximately two weeks into the mandatory Stay At Home ("shelter in place") order from our governor.
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