By Shaun Scott, Puyallup Tribal News
In her role as a victim advocate care coordinator in the Children of the River Child Advocacy Center, Puyallup Tribal Member Marjorie Basballe constantly has the well-being of children on her mind. And in an always changing online landscape, the ways and resources to protect children are constantly evolving.
Basballe’s new book, “Safe, Strong & Smart: A Practical Guide to Raising Resilient Kids in a Digital World” was released online in Kindle and paperback forms on July 7.
The book is designed to be a practical guide for parents, grandparents, caregivers and foster families raising children and protecting them from potential harm in today’s digital landscape.
“The reason behind (the book) is because we are always ready to protect our children from all types of harm. Today, digital harm is out there. That is the reality,” Basballe said. “I wanted readers, especially those with lived experiences of trauma to feel safe, seen and empowered. This book is really a bridge between traditional wisdom and today’s digital challenges. My goal was to hold a space for both in a way that’s healing and supportive.”
Basballe said she deeply considered everything with how the book was written, wanting to honor those who came before her and represent the values of the Puyallup Tribe.
“I really wanted to do the due diligence and do this right for the community. From the very beginning, I felt a deep responsibility to make sure the book honored our Elders, ancestors and the cultural knowledge that continues to guide us,” Basballe said. “I took care in how the material was presented, not just to ensure it was accurate and relevant, but to be sure it was respectful, grounded in community values and reflective of the strength and resilience of our people. I believe that my Elders worked really hard to protect our people. I am just grateful and honored to be able to continue that legacy.”
Basballe said the book is based upon previous presentations, workshops, PowerPoint presentations and research she has done through advocacy work throughout her career.
“Prevention is one of the best techniques. How can you as a parent or guardian stop it (digital threats) from reaching your kids in the first place? There are monitoring apps, but I think, more importantly, is the relationship you have with your children, talking early and often with them and having that relationship where they are not fearful to come to you and you’re having an ongoing conversation with them,” Basballe said. “As a parent, it is really important to stay on top of all the trends. I really emphasize the importance of the relationship between parent and child or caregiver and child.”
Basballe said she knew her book was available online after receiving a reply on one of her previous Facebook posts.
“I lost my breath. I just had a reaction,” Basballe said. “I made an announcement on Facebook telling people that it was coming (book was being released) and then I got that message from someone saying they had ordered it.”
