How Technology Can Coexist With Kids in a Healthy Way - Divine Lifestyle
Kids Technology & Parenting

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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  1. Mami2jcn

    My tip would be to supervise their Internet use.

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  22. rachel travis

    They can coexist by having their “technology” time limited, just like everything else 🙂

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  23. Sandy VanHoey

    My grandson has many educational programs he plays daily on the internet. He is supervised and we log him him to keep him safe and we use a name that is not his own

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  41. Jessie C.

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  63. Shannon

    My kids only use media on the weekends. It’s tough!, but it’s the only way for our family to be balanced.

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  73. Elena

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  89. Candice

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  104. Cynthia R

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  127. rachel

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  146. June Lisle

    You can use technology to look up information about bugs you find in your yard with your kids.

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  152. Sarah Hall

    By making sure that you limit the time spent in front of the computer or other electronic device. Kids must have fresh air and sunshine and exercise to grow and be healthy. The computer is a wonderful device but it does need to be limited sometimes.

  153. Jennifer T.

    My son, who is not even two yet, has already picked up some colors and shapes from watching his older sister play educational games on my phone when we are waiting somewhere. I think that limits on screen time and supervision can foster a healthy outcome with technology.
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  192. Olga Beauty

    It’s a very important and burning topic, for many kids have notebooks, iPhones, apps, cell phones etc. And we can’t change the situation becuase it’s a new age and our kids must go with the times to succeed in this life. So, our task as parents is to protect them as far as possible. Thank you for this info!

  193. Charlotte

    Set a limited amount of time, they should be supervised, and you should know passwords to their social accounts!

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  230. My best tip for how technology and kids can coexist in a health way is by blocking what you think needs to be blocked and supervising the rest. 😉

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  241. amber

    i think kids and technology can only coexisit with proper supervision by parents. I think it’s completely OK for parents to have all kids email, facebook, ect passwords, and to set a certain age when a kid can have those accounts

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  249. Kenny F

    using internet safely

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