Parenting Pointers: Parenting in the Technological World

By: Tom Lash, owner of ThinkBIG Do you remember when you were young and spent free time outdoors, playing games with your friends, participating in sports, riding bikes, shooting hoops and just having fun? Growing up is very different today as children are exposed to technology at an early age and spend time online. There are so many online options today including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, instant messaging, online chat rooms, texting, Skype, smart phones, iPods, iPads, video games and more. As technology advances, so does the risk of dangers including meeting strangers online, cyberbullying, being exposed to inappropriate websites, sexting and privacy concerns. As parents, it’s hard to keep up with the ever evolving technological environment. Parents need to be involved with what their children are doing online. The key is to strike a good balance between time spent on technology and making real connections, including having face-to-face time with family and friends, using their imagination, and gaining real-life experiences. Some steps parents can take include: • Setting limits. This includes how much time a child is allowed to spend on the computer, playing video games, using cell phones, etc. • Get involved. Know what your children are doing online. Computers should not be in their bedrooms, but in a common space such as a family room where you can keep an eye on what they are doing. • Regularly check friend lists. For middle-school age children, be aware of who their online friends are. Only allow them to be friends with people they know. If they’re on social media, be sure you are their friend so you can monitor activity. • Educate Yourself. Have an understanding for social networking. Make sure you have a strict privacy policy and ensure privacy settings are set up appropriately. Stay up to date on the latest technologies and how to use them. • Use Parental Controls. There are many filters available to protect your child’s computer and mobile phones. Be sure to research available resources and make an informed decision. These controls can protect your children from exposure to inappropriate websites. Controls can also monitor website visits and protects children from profanity, spyware, viruses and more. • Be a role model. It’s hard to set an example for children if you don’t live by your own rules. Make sure you set limits for yourself as well, so your children see that the majority of your time is not spent on technology. That means sometimes not answering your cell or logging onto Facebook, and instead spending quality time with your children. Play a game, create an art project together, throw a ball around, take a day trip. Create technology-free experiences and memories. • Discuss and implement rules. Be sure you discuss proper use and limitations with children and enforce expectations. Explain your family values and what is acceptable and unacceptable. It is important that they understand current choices can affect their future. The technology-age is here to stay and will continue to evolve and change. Being involved with your children’s online activity, making sure they also spend time away from technology and keeping open lines of communication will go a long way in teaching your children how to make good decisions. There is no substitute for face-to-face interactions and real life experiences. Tom Lash, father of four, started ThinkBIG (www.thinkbigcomputing.com) in 2011 to provide a safe online environment for children.