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First Things First

The Thumbs Down. Speak Up. (TDSU) approach is easy and collaborative.

Teaching children the skills they need to navigate their online lives without our constant oversight is about more than just telling them what to do. You can help your child master the skills they need by making them a partner in the process. Supportive social-emotional connections enhance learning.

By working together with your child, you are laying the groundwork for success!

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Self-Guided & Straightforward

Thumbs Down

Our intuitive and teachable Thumbs Down skills help kids become independent and responsible when interacting online.

Speak Up

Our time-tested teaching techniques and engaging activities help you Speak Up and support your kids as they learn.

Getting Started With TDSU

Interacting online safely and responsibly is a skill that has to be taught. This starts with you talking about and modeling online communication skills, but mastering new skills also requires practice. How do you know when your child is ready to start practicing interacting online?

  1. 1 Model, Narrate, and Normalize

    • Modeling is when we show rather than tell
      • For example: model the skill of Pausing by asking your child’s permission before sharing a photo of them.
    • Narrating is when recount out loud
      • For example: narrate Moving a Conversation Offline by saying, “I just got a text from my friend and I’m not sure what they mean. I’m going to call them to continue this conversation”.
    • Normalizing is when we set expectations
      • For example: set the expectation that your family communicates about what happens in your online lives by asking join in a game your child is playing or talking about your own decision to unfollow a newsfeed becasue it is making you anxious. You are laying the groudwork for them to Reach Out when they need help with something that happens online.

  2. 2 Assess Your Child’s Developmental Readiness

    TDSU’s top three signs of developmental readiness are:

    • An increased ability to see things from the perspective of another
    • An increased ability to anticipate consequences
    • An increased capacity for impulse control

    Make sure your child’s access is aligned with their developmental readiness for interacting online. 

  3. 3 Practice the Thumbs Down skills

    Use our fun and engaging Activities, Digital Dialogues and Speak Up teaching techniques to help your child practice the skills they need to interact online safely and responsibly.

  4. 4 Increase Your Child’s Independence

    As your tween begins to exhibit more developmental maturity and demonstrates that they are integrating – and perhaps in some cases mastering – the Thumbs Down skills,  you can begin to increase their independence.

    For example, if you started your tween out texting in a group chat with family, you might find that they are now ready to start a group chat with one or two friends. Perhaps your child is prepared to join a social media platform and have their Trusted Team follow them. Or maybe your child is ready for their Trusted Team to be made up of peers, rather than trusted adults.

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