Parent your kids technology
When I was a kid we had corded phones, beepers and three way calling.
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And not three way in the same way as 2016 three way.
But now you have Facebook. Twitter. And dam snapchat.
I don't even know how to snap or chat let alone put them together.
Let me share with you my issue:
I've put restrictions on my thirteen-year-olds phone. But because her friends' parents don't actively monitor what their kids are doing, she thinks I am too strict. Or “doing too much” as she formed her lips to tell me.
And trust me when I say that they are doing god knows what with these darn devices.
Technology is the gift and the curse.
The influence and pressure are annoying.
Boy being on the other side of the coin sucks. My mother told me it would.
I really wish that parents would police their children's activities. Doing things like keeping tabs, imposing rules, and you know actively parenting. Then my kid doesn't have to give me such a hard time.
I get it. No one wants to miss out. You wanna know and do the latest but everything ain't for kids.
I'm doing good letting her have a phone let alone opening Pandora's box that is social media.
Ugh.
Just randomly venting but might as well share with you a few ways I'm the bad parent when it comes to her dam phone…Maybe they will help you in parenting your child's technology.
No social media
I said this already but let me splain (not cause I owe her, or you, an explanation but so you know). There are predators out there. People who prey on young PYTs like mine. Just waiting for them and their bad judgment to post a revealing photo and/or some type of identifying information. Then the creepy white Ariel Castro van is pulling up and I'm crying on the news. Nah son. Not happening.
Random searches
There is not to be nan password on that phone that I don't know. Which means I will check whatever, whenever. I even can check her deleted text messages. The rule is if you wouldn't say it to or in front of me, you probably shouldn't say it period.
Time limits
She has to turn that thing in every night and wait to get it handed back over in the morning. She not gone be up at all ungodly hours talking about nothing and plus it gives me time for the last point.
Contract
I'm not talking with sprint or Verizon either. I am talking I made her sign a contract agreeing to all the rules. In the event she breaks any one of them, there will be an immediate indefinite confiscation of the electronic device. Flat out
It's hard raising kids these days. With all the technology and then all of the predators and all of the influences. Jesus help me!
Really that's all I got in this parenting thing to help me remain even slightly sain. Jesus. My homie. He is my help.
[bctt tweet=”Get a usage contract for your kids' cell phone use. You set the rules!” username=”IamKenyaRae”]
Let's stay on top of them and train them up y'all. They need us for that.
You can get your very own Technology Contract for your teen by clicking here.
You hit it on the head!! I BOUGHT my first phone at 13 with my birthday money because my mother had absolutely 0 intentions on buying me a phone lol she only allowed me to buy it after realizing that there was no contract and it would be Pay as you go. I’m talking when Virgjn Mobile first came out. No apps no email just the basic texting and talking. But my friends didn’t have cell phones so it was mostly talking and only like 300 minutes a month! Lol So my mom didn’t really need to monitor anything. No when it comes to my own children, I most definitely will be doing all of the above because this world is crazy and there is a REAL ENEMY out to take each and everyone of us out however he can. I’m always quoting Proverbs 22:6 to people when they think my parenting views are “too much” It is out responsibility to teach our children the right way!! I’m 24 and all the girls my age with kids let their children do whatever but that ain’t happening over here! Thankfully I was raised in a very Godly and some say strict home. People say me and my brothers were sheltered but I highly disagree. I believe we were kept, kept from things we had no business being a part of and now that I look back I know for sure we didn’t miss out on anything!
Girl!!! All of what you said. I try to explain that to my daughter. She sees he friends freedom and thinks that I’m trying to ruin her life. I told her I am saving her from herself and that she will thank me later. I will parent each and every one of mine cause that is what I am called to do!! Great job girl. Keep it up. Even when it gets hard….
I see so many people giving their kids smart phones acting like they dont have access to the same technology we do. Internet blocks and no social media until 16. Its for protection too many predators and so many horrible apps and website that can negatively influence your child.
My daughter is thirteen but I took the App Store off and darn near everything is blocked/restricted. And I monitor. It’s different times than when we were growing up for sure.
I can remember trying to break the rules with my phone usage. I think it is important to protect our youth, it’s a lot out there!
It can be scary. The Internet can be a world of trouble if they are not supervised.
Girl, yes! We have contracts for our teens which reduced them trying to circumvent the rules. My 13yr old son is very good about his phone and rarely breaks the rules regarding it since he doesn’t want it taken away like his sister.
Ooh yes! I had contracts with my daughter and she hated them because it meant that she had to be on her best behavior. Good tips!