Kids and Technology: What You Need to Talk About – Parade

March 1, 2017 7:00 AM ByScott Steinberg Parade @AKeynoteSpeaker More by Scott

Your kids think about it all the time.They obsess about it actually.And when theyre not occupied by it up in their rooms, its keeping them in the bathroom a little longer then they need to be.They talk about it with their friends, they crave it during long road trips or any spare moment theyve got. Were talking about technology, of course.

Granted, while discussing high-tech and online safety may not seem to require the same gravity as another, equally important talk we must all have with children, in some ways parents need to treat it just the same. As with the birds and the bees, kids need to know some basic ground rules of technology, and know that they can trust their parents to talk about it openly and honestly. This means that at some point in all our lives, parents need to be ready to have The Talk about technology with kids.

Following are some of the topics you should cover, and some tips to make sure the meeting goes well to boot.

What to do when something is wrong

Teach kids what they need to know to spot something fishy, whether a piece of questionable content or unscrupulous individual. Ensure theyre equipped with a basic awareness of predators, criminals, shady characters, online scams and potential sources of erroneous facts and misinformation. Cultivate a healthy sense of skepticism without instilling a sense of fear or powerlessness, and let kids know that they can come to you when questions or concerns arise.

Transparency does not mean invasion of privacy

Let your kids know that anything they do with technology can be tracked and monitored to you.Theres no reason to do nightly checks unless you suspect something is wrong, but checking in once every couple of weeks into text conversations or e-mail accounts should teach make them think twice about doing anything they shouldnt with their devices.But let them know that doesnt mean you will be prying into their personal details, either.Youre just doing a top level look to make sure nothing is wrong, so promise your kids you wont tell grandma and grandpa that they have a new girlfriend based on your tech check-ups.

Creating and enforcing safe password policies

Many experts recommend enforcing a transparent password policy with your kids, meaning every password for any login is available for parents. If thats not for you, make sure youre clear on what does work for your family.Set rules that if you discover that any inappropriate activities or actions have taken place, these can be grounds for immediate restriction or loss of privileges. Just as you as a parent shouldnt be doing anything online thats inappropriate to share with your family, there shouldnt be anything that your kids are doing that requires being kept secret as well.

Downloading apps, media and software

Have a discussion about buying new apps, music or digital downloads, what types of content is acceptable to consume, and how it may be enjoyed then set a household policy that all members agree to abide by. Be sure to consistently apply and enforce it as well.

The right time and place for technology

Discuss the appropriate times to use technology as well as times that should be device free.For example, there should be an expectation at dinner that no one is checking their smartphone or playing with their PlayStation Vita.

You also want to make sure they know that they should never try to use any piece of technology that will distract them from driving.Texting while driving can have disastrous and devastating effects on families, and if its a concern you may want to consider one of the many available apps that disables texting ability while driving.

Discussing digital citizenship

Discussions about the appropriate way to behave online can also include discussing what is and isnt OK to share online, especially given the ready availability and permanence of information uploaded to the Internet.

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Kids and Technology: What You Need to Talk About - Parade