Mental illness has been on the rise among children since the easy, online access of the digital age, creating new problems like cyber bullying.
So many questions accompany affordable technology. When should a child get his first phone? How young is too young for a social media account?
We all want to protect our children from the harmful people that lurk in the deepest depths of the Internet, but sometimes, we forget about the influences of their friends just a text away.
The Beano, the longest running British children's comic magazine, has released a new comic strip in partnership with the children’s mental health charity YoungMinds.
Meet Mandi! She's @BeanoOfficial's lastest addition, created in partnership with us, to engage children about mental health.
— YoungMinds (@YoungMindsUK) July 22, 2018
Mandi’s story sees her face everyday issues that can create anxiety or stress. Grab a copy of Beano's 80th anniversary comic to see what happens next! pic.twitter.com/QLFnuEL3TN
Mandi and her Mobile follows the life of nine-year-old Mandi, who receives her first mobile phone.
She learns the ups and downs of having a cell phone and how to deal with social issues in a digital context.
A recent study, has revealed that children are happier when away from their phones. Texting has opened up a new field in parenting as well that may require monitoring and cause negative interactions between children and their friends.
We are so excited to have a modern comic strip that can help guide children through these common issues.
Beano's chief executive Emma Scott, told the Times Educational Supplement: “We feel we have a responsibility to entertain kids, but also to make sure they’re in a safe place."
According to The Independent, the charity YoungMinds has come out with their own tips on how to handle having your first phone, including what to do if someone ignores your text or sends a nasty reply.
It is so important that we do not overlook mobile phone safety.
Children are so impressionable, it is vital that they learn how to navigate technology safely before they have access to all things Internet.
