About Dr. B...
Dr. Bennett is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Screen Safety Expert who teaches families how to strengthen relationships AND achieve screen sanity. She is the Founder and CEO of GetKidsInternetSafe (GKIS) and the Author of Screen Time in the Mean Time: A Parenting Guide to Get Kids and Teens Internet Safe. She has been in private practice for 30 years and is an Adjunct Faculty at California State University Channel Islands.
In her work with kids and families, Dr. Bennett sees the negative impacts of digital injury and the powerful impacts of prevention and treatment. After being distracted by the loss of her parents, she needed answers for her own kids, shame-free, actionable strategies that work. They weren’t out there, so ten years ago she committed to the GKIS mission. Her research and teaching complement the feet-on-the-ground practical skill set that she uses in private practice. She consults with experts in technology and education, has served on the Youth Advisory Team for Facebook’s Messenger Kids, and was Global Ambassador of TeenSafe. Her television and radio appearances, keynotes, blog articles, and online screen safety programs make a powerful impact on youth, families, paraprofessionals, and professionals.
Contact: DrTracy@DrTracyBennett.com
“Childhood is all about discovery; so is parenting. My favorite thing about GKIS is it allows me to help families rediscover each other in our screen-distracting world. Screens are compelling because the discovery potential is amazing but so is true connection with each other.
With GKIS tools, families discover that screen safety doesn’t have to lead to chronic conflict; it can be fun! Rather than feeling shut out, GKIS parents learn how to participate in their children’s offline and online worlds. They work together instead of threatening or yanking privileges.
GKIS courses optimize screen safety and balanced online and offline play. With effective tools and strategies in place, family fun becomes an everyday possibility. Happy families discover together through fun, spontaneous engagement. THAT is what makes GKIS magic.” ~Dr. B
The GKIS Mission
GetKidsInternetSafe helps families achieve screen sanity, prevent digital injury, and form deeper, more meaningful relationships. We don’t have to give up screens to be safe. GKIS offers tools and strategies to protect the joys of childhood online discovery in today’s overtasked world.
What is digital injury?
Digital injury refers to the physical and psychological harm caused by screen device use. Injuries may result from a multitude of contributors including:
- distraction from real-life relationships and activities,
- performance deficits and repetitive strain and distraction injuries,
- gaming addiction and other screen-use addictions,
- viewing, emulating, or posting inappropriate, shocking, or traumatizing violent or sexual content,
- victimization from aggressive marketing or cybercrime,
- dangerous online interactions with others and cyberbullying,
- exposure to false information and hate speech and radicalization, and
- mental health or cognitive issues resulting from screen device misuse or overuse.
Because technology is rapidly changing and the psychological research and protective legislation hasn’t been able to keep up, Dr. Bennett founded GetKidsInternetSafe to offer a toolkit for families to promote appropriate protections, improve parental communication and screen management, enable independent problem-solving for parents and children, improve child wellness, prevent digital injury, and avoid the need for costly inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy.
Here are some of the risks our courses address to help keep you and your family screen safe:
Commonsense Disclaimer
My goals for GetKidsInternetSafe courses are to inspire cooperative family dialogue and sound strategies for screen management. General practical tips are offered for informational guidelines rather than clinical service. As a mother and licensed psychologist, I am profoundly aware that each child, parent, and family is different and good parenting comes in many forms. Not all course tips work with all kids and families. Please use your best judgment and parental instincts when applying them. For specific questions pertaining to your child’s physical or mental health, please consult your local pediatrician or licensed clinical psychologist. If you are in crisis, please contact emergency services immediately. GetKidsInternetSafe Privacy Policy and Terms of Use apply. Thanks for reading through the legal and ethical stuff. Welcome to our GetKidsInternetSafe community, and please enjoy all that your GKIS Social Media Readiness Training Course has to offer!
