Here is a post from Cox Communications regarding internet safety tips for children/teens plus be sure to check in at the bottom of the post for a giveaway for a $50 American Express gift card! Yeah!
HOW TECHNOLOGY CAN COEXIST WITH KIDS IN A HEALTHY WAY
When parents come to me with questions about how to monitor their kid’s technology, it’s almost always after they’ve discovered something – a questionable photo on Instagram, a conversation with a stranger, usage when they should have been doing their homework. No matter how conscious and proactive parents are about setting limits in other areas, often they don’t create boundaries around technology until a boundary has already been crossed. And no wonder: Many say they simply don’t know where to begin. If they ban chatting on one device, they think, their kids will find a way to do it on another. Others parents say they didn’t realize how much time their kids actually spent staring at screens.
Believe it or not, according to recent studies, kids ages 8 to 18 spend more than seven and a half hours a day on various devices, often while multitasking. But while too much technology use is associated with lower grades and shortened attention spans, it also creates wonderful opportunities for parents and kids alike that none of us would want to give up. So here are a few ways to start thinking about how technology can coexist with kids in a healthy way.
Establish your policy up front. Earlier this year, when a mom named Jannel Burley Hoffman gave her 13-year-old son his first iPhone, it came not just with a data plan, but with a contract. Among the points: She would have his password; if she or her husband called, her son was always to pick up; there would be no porn viewing or sending or receiving inappropriate photos; he would have access to his phone during certain hours only; if he accidentally lost or broke his phone, he would be responsible for its replacement cost. Clarifying rules early on is a win-win for everyone. Kids learn that with freedom comes responsibility, and parents can feel reassured that while kids will make mistakes, they don’t have to come up with a consequence (often an overreaction) on the fly. It’s all in the contract.
Make manners matter. Because we parents were born before Facebook existed, we learned our manners offline. If we did something rude, we apologized, and our bad judgment didn’t live in cyberspace for eternity. For this reason, kids need to know that if they wouldn’t say something offline to a person’s face, they shouldn’t text, post or e-mail that comment, either. Likewise, if they wouldn’t cut off a person sitting across the table from them mid-sentence, they shouldn’t start texting somebody else when that real live person they’re hanging out with is mid-sentence. It may seem obvious to us, but many kids need a reminder that while technology is cool, human beings – with feelings – are the ones who are using it.
Don’t give in to peer pressure…from your kids! Even if you set limits, inevitably your child will try to get you to change your mind with, “But everyone else my age has [fill in the blank]!” If you feel your kid isn’t ready for something – a Facebook account, an iPhone – listen to your gut. Yes, they may be using it from the safety of their bedroom or backpack, but once they’re online, they’re, in essence, able to interact with the entire world. Some kids are inherently less impulsive than others; some self-regulate at earlier ages than others. Your kids will internalize the limits you set, so that by gradually increasing their freedom, you’re giving them the opportunity to show you that they can handle the next level of responsibility. Just as you wouldn’t give your teenager the keys to the car if you didn’t think she could go to a party and not drink before driving, you wouldn’t give her access to a type of technology you didn’t feel confident she could be safe with. Letting your kids show you they’re ready gives you peace of mind, and them the confidence of having earned your trust through their actions.
Be in this together. Because technology is ever-changing, and so are our kids, it’s important for them to feel that while you set the rules, communication is always open. If you notice a distinct change in your child’s behavior and friendships, and you check to see if cyber-bullying is occurring, you’re being a helpful parent, not an intrusive spy. If you set a rule but it’s not in line with what the technology actually does, listen to your child’s explanation, research it, and if you need to adjust the rule, then do so. If you find your child searching for something above his age level on the Internet and you want to give him more accurate information, start a conversation about it. Yes, kids can and should have their spheres of privacy. But they need to know that the Internet is a communal space, one that parents and kids are in together.
Visit www.cox.com/takecharge for more tips and information.
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And you can enter to win a $50 American Express gift card!!
If you would like to win just leave a comment below letting me know if you have any additional tips for internet safety.
For a bonus entry: leave a second comment letting me know if you are:
- a fan of My Frugal Adventures on Facebook
- or if you subscribe to MFA via email
- or if you are a follower over on Pinterest!
This giveaway ends on June 30th at 4pm PST. GOOD LUCK!
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**This post is sponsored by A&E Networks for my participation in the Lifetime Moms program. The giveaway winner will be selected randomly and will have 72 hours to respond. If they do not respond an alternate winner will be selected.
We have our computer in the living room. We can always see what our children are viewing online.
I am a fan on Facebook
My tip: Have your child explain their goals for being online & definitely set parameters.
I’m a follower on Pinterest!
I like these tips. Thank you for giveaway!
I’m e-mail subscriber.
Thx for doing this!
I am a fan on facebook
I am a fan on facebook
Monitor kids closely online
Like on Facebook!
Mostly, the upfront rules… Then everyone knows where you all stand!
Keep the desktop computer in the family room so everyone can see what websites are being looked at.
And I’m a fan on FB.
I make sure my kids use technology in a public area of the house.
I Like My Frugal Adventures on Facebook(Kelly D Saver)
I subscribe to your email under kellywcuATyahooDOTcom
I Follow you on pinterest(Kelly Saver)
I set up a strict time frame unless its needed or school. I let my son use tech from 3-5pm everyday during the summer and only on the weekends during school. If we are not here he doesn’t get to use it.
We do not allow computers in our kids’ bedrooms. The computers are in an open room so that we can monitor what is being viewed.
Oh gosh, this reminds me of the program I ran at my library on cyber bullying. Safety on the internet is key! I’ve even noticed the filters at the kids computers at the library aren’t very well monitored, esp. on sites like Youtube. Better be safe than sorry!
I follow you on facebook. 🙂
Parents should be aware of all social media accounts. Many kids have multiple accounts and the parents don’t know so they only monitor one.
We keep our computer in the family room and use K9 filter to help restrict access to unwanted sites.
Keep communication open with your kids.
Email subscriber
I don’t allow my children on social media sites. They have basic phones. Anything they want to say to friends, they text. I know everyone in their contact list, and they won’t make the mistake of putting anything inappropriate out there for the world to see!
Tip: Let your children know that, like in person, people and websites can lie and give false information.
I also follow you on Pinterest!
Keeping all technology out of the kids
bedrooms and in a public viewing area
like a kitchen solves many issues!
Make sure your teen keeps their privacy settings on Facebook so that only their friends can see their pictures and status updates. Way too many kids are leaving their Facebook pages completely open for anyone to see.
I follow MFA via e-mail.
I’m a Facebook fan (Mary Happymommy)
I subscribe via email.
I follow on Pinterest.
I follow you on FB
I follow you on pinterest
Take all “communication devices” to your own bedroom at night to recharge. Then the kids won’t be tempted to to text in the middle of the nightl
Train kids to not give their phone number — it’ll launch tons of sales calls!
I am your fan on fb
It’s always a good idea to have computers in main living areas so parents can see what’s on the screen, and have a filtering software on all devices that reports to parents what’s been viewed. Keep communication open!
Good virus protection!
Facebook follower
My kids are still young, so its been easy to simply limit their access to technology. I see other 5 year olds playing games on-line already (fine if parents are with them) but our kids have limited screen time, so they’d rather use it on TV shows. And the rest of the time they play, with as much outside time as possible.
I love your pinterest posts!
I think that parents should be aware of any of the social media accounts their children have.
I’m a fan of My Frugal Adventures on Facebook!
I now subscribe to MFA via email!
I’m now following you on Pinterest!
Teach the kids not to give out personal information on the Internet.
I’m a fan on Facebook