Talking to Kids about Technology

The technology your kids use changes almost every day—it can be tough to keep up with new advances in cell phones, laptops, PDAs, the Internet, and other digital technologies that your kids use. By staying in close communication with your kids and doing your best to stay well informed, you can help your children learn to use technology safely and responsibly.

• Set limits on when and where your child can use handheld devices, such as cell phones, portable video game systems, and PDAs. Suggestions include not using them at mealtimes, while visiting family or friends, when driving, or when in the middle of another conversation.
• Find out what technologies are being used in your child’s school. Do teachers keep blogs? Are student groups organized on Facebook or through Second Life? Do teachers use digital whiteboards? If so, check these out periodically.
• If your child is using a device you are not familiar with, ask him about it. Have him show you how to use it and what can be done with it. Check in with your child periodically and discuss his usage of different devices.
• Download and read Online Exposure: Teens at Risk and Parents Disconnected , a guide to kids’ Internet usage by TheAntiDrug.com.

While you can’t expect to be as on top of advancing technology as your kids are—several generations of parents will attest to this—you can do your best to be conscious of how it’s affecting their lives. Simply incorporating good communication into your daily life can help you understand your child’s use of technology.