Technology. Think back to just a few years ago, when everyone you knew finally had email! Now the options are endless: e-mail is practically antiquated, what with Facebook, Twitter, smart phones, Skyping, texting, instant messaging, Kindles, iPads and the like. I am a Facebook junkie, but I don't rely on much other technology. My phone is always with me, and I like to text, but I still like my books made of paper and one computer is enough for me--so I don't consider myself too far gone.
My question is: what about kids? At what age did your kids get a cell phone? Or at what age do you plan to allow it, if they are still too young? How do you ensure that your children are safe online? Do you monitor their activity? Are they allowed to have a Facebook account? Their own e-mail account? Do they text with friends, and how do you know they are doing what they are supposed to if they have constant access to the Internet?
This is a loaded issue for parents, because kids can get into trouble online. There are issues of privacy, worries about school work suffering and myriad dangers to be considered, but no matter how you feel about it, kids will force the issue. I've seen plenty of kids as young as seven or eight years old talking on cell phones, and even though Facebook states that users must be thirteen, we all know it's easy to lie about your age.
A universal truth about kids is that they want to fit in, and in today's world, that means being plugged in. I see it like standing against the ocean, trying to keep kids away from texting and cell phones, the Internet and wanting an iPad for their birthday.
So please share with us! We want to know your strategies for staying away from technology, or what limits you've imposed on your kids, or how you keep them safe. Let us know what rules you have, strategies and struggles--and remember, every Wednesday at 1pm we have a new Mom's Talk, so check back and share often!
