Technology guidelines
for your household.
With the constant shifts in technology it is even more
important to have some solid rules about technology in your home. Here are some ideas that we have seen be
helpful in households:
- Put a curfew on the technology in your
home. AND ENFORCE IT. This encourages kids
to prioritize their time, but it also forces them to shut their brains off and
disconnect. Your child is not going to
get a good night sleep if he/she’s waiting for a text/facebook/etc response
from another peer. (Helpful tip: Many cell phone companies allow parents to set
a ‘turn off’ hour for their kids cell phones.)
- Resist the temptation to put televisions or
computers in your children’s room.
Studies show that t.v. stimulates children’s brains and makes it more
difficult for them to fall asleep. In addition, there is not quality
programming on in the later hours of the evening. It is much more difficult to
regulate and enforce rules if the t.v., computer or cell phone is in their
room. Removing those items is the easiest way to ensure that they are not in
use.
- If you allow your child on Facebook or to have
email, have the passwords. The risks
online are great and the anonymity of the internet doesn’t always lend to the
best decision making especially with a teenage mentality. If they don’t want you seeing it, then they
shouldn’t be writing it period. Start
this expectation early to make it easier on yourself. If you haven’t done this it’s not too late to
put it in place- remember you are the parent and you can change the rules if
you wish.
- Remind your children that although you gave them
a cellphone it still belongs to you and is a privilege that can be taken
away.
- Don’t be scared of technology! Embrace it and be
open to learning. Challenge yourself to
learn what is out there because technology is a second language for your
children and you want to be in the know.
As a parent it is important to raise healthy, happy
children. Encourage your child’s need
for independence and respect their need for privacy; however, you must also
listen to your gut. If you feel
something is off or wrong, you want to have the means to be able to look into
it further. Resist the temptation of checking
your child’s phone/accounts daily (this can turn into a compulsion). Instead, find a balance between allowing for
their independence and minimizing risks.
