I Watched Adolescence... Now What?

Whether you watched the show Adolescence or just heard the buzz, you might be asking yourself the same thing I did: Now what?

Like many parents, I felt a strong call to action—to revisit our online safety rules and journal, update our family tech pledge, and reconnect. If there’s one message Adolescence makes loud and clear, it’s this: Keeping the lines of communication open with your kids isn’t optional—it’s essential! 

Let’s Break Down the What + Why Conversations Matter

1. 📱 Online Safety

What: Setting boundaries, knowing the risks, and helping kids navigate the digital world.
Why: Kids are going online earlier than ever, and they need support—not surveillance—to stay safe. 

2. 🧠 Tools for Big Feelings

What: Helping kids name and manage their emotions. 
Why: Emotional regulation is key to handling peer pressure, making good choices, and building healthy relationships—on and offline.

3. ✋ Respect & Boundaries

What: Teaching kids to honor their own boundaries and others’.
Why: It helps prevent bullying, builds confidence, and teaches consent—skills they’ll use for life.

Now Let’s Tackle the Conversation

When it comes to staying connected—especially with teens—it often means thinking a little outside the box. Here's the truth: connection takes effort. Your child may not always want to talk face-to-face at the dinner table—and that’s okay. We can meet them where they are. Here’s a prompt to help: 

💬 Try saying:
"I know talking face-to-face isn't always your favorite—and that’s totally okay. Let’s find a way(s) to talk that feels more comfortable for you."

Then try one of these creative connection ideas:

📓 Start a shared journal to exchange thoughts and questions
🗣️ Use Bright Littles Conversation Cards at dinner, bedtime, or on the go
🚗 Talk during car rides is a great way to chat, while not being face to face 
🚶 Go on screen-free walks, where conversations feel more natural 
🧠 Explore the Bright Littles Digital Citizenship Journal for a fun outside the box fun games, questions, activities, and role-playing 

Now that we know the what, why, and how—let’s get the conversation started!

📱 Online Safety Questions for Kids (Ages 6–10):

1. What do you like to do most when you're on a screen?
2. Has anyone ever asked you something online that felt weird or uncomfortable? What did you do?
3. What do you think is okay—or not okay—to share online?
4. What would you do if someone you don’t know sent you a message?
5. Why do we have rules about using devices only in shared family spaces?

💻 Online Safety Questions for Teens:

1. Have you ever seen something online that made you question if it was real or fake? How did you figure it out?
2. Why do you think apps and websites have age limits—and do you think they matter?
3. If a friend was doing something risky online, how could you talk to them about it without sounding bossy or judgmental?
4. Have you ever felt pressure to share something online that didn’t feel right? What did you do?
5. If you're unsure about something online, who can you talk to and why is it important to ask for help?

Keep the Conversation with Your Kids Going

The Adolescence Netflix show is a powerful reminder that our kids are growing up in a complicated world—but they still need us. They still crave our support, our guidance, and our trust—even if they don’t always show it.

Building strong communication with your kids. It begins when they’re little and continues through consistency, empathy, and creativity.

Because in the end, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about being present!