President's Letter: Get Curious to Connect

If you read my article on language a few months back, you’ll remember the importance of the words we use to describe behaviors, needs and challenges. This month’s newsletter focuses on “Risky Behavior” and includes gaming and TikTok challenges. Although both may be considered risky, I caution the use of this terminology when describing something that is simply unfamiliar, scary or new to us. Rather, I invite us to get curious about the way we understand these platforms and explore how we can lean into the conversations surrounding both. To do this, we must acknowledge that gaming and apps like TikTok aren’t going anywhere. Lamenting their existence or claiming, “Back in my day we didn’t sit in front of a screen,” will quickly end a conversation with a student. Instead, reframe gaming and apps as tools, learn to co-exist, and help students learn how to use them in healthy and responsible ways. Here are three ideas for doing this today.
 

1. Do some research so that you enter conversations with some context and understanding. For example, did you know that Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) is in the DSM-IV-T-R under the section of needing additional research? This means that we don’t fully understand the extent of gaming addiction yet; we need more information.
2. Learn more about the games your students are playing or the TikTok influencers they are watching. Visit www.commonsensemedia.org to read about the premise of each game and other details including whether sex, drugs, violence or profanity are part of gameplay. You can also find out if the game includes positive role models, encouraging messages and diverse representation. On the website, you can also learn about TikTok trends, challenges and stars. Having this information ahead of conversations with students can help them to feel understood and welcome, especially if you are willing to bring your newfound knowledge to the conversation with a healthy dose of caring curiosity.
3. Add gaming and TikTok to your counseling repertoire. Consider partnering with your tech teachers (or local businesses) to bring a gaming club into your school. Imagine the impact of having a welcoming space in school where students can learn how to be responsible in their play while also learning self-management skills including the importance of physical movement, proper sleep hygiene, stretching, communication (on and off the mic) and nutrition. Let’s skill our students up so that they can make informed decisions in their play. As for TikTok, consider enlisting your students who enjoy the app as a creative outlet to serve as a “social media intern” or create a club in which your students help you make relevant content for your counseling program. In this process, you can discuss things like perceptions, reality versus fantasy, and the responsibility that comes with distributing content.

As school counselors, we have an opportunity to engage with our students and help to be part of the solution. Let’s get more comfortable with these tech tools and work to support our students differently!

Contact Addy Wissel, Ph.D., WSCA president, at addywisselwsca@gmail.com.