Technology and Setting Controls or Limits
By | Carolyn Lantzy Nelson (cont.)
When teenagers are told not to do something and they do not understand why, they do it anyway. When they misuse technology and do not know they are doing wrong, it is forgivable. However, when they repeat the same offense, maybe in a different way, then something needs to happen. Parents feel like they have lost all trust in their teen and feel they cannot watch them 24/7. They are at a loss and want to put them in a bubble. That is not the answer.
It is about making hard choices. It is about making technology safe for your children. It is about looking up on Google how to set parental controls. Most items have parental control settings. You do have to do your research. Some teenagers are bright enough to hack into parental controls. If you cannot set the parental controls so it gives you the features you want, then the other option is to take away the electronic devices for use. You can block certain sites with your computer. You can make it password protected. In this case, you only log the teen on when you are going to be around to supervise.
When you take away an electronic device, it may be for a very long time (6-8 months), even then the teen may not learn and try again. Again you take away the electronic device and you set baby steps for them to earn your trust back. Teens today feel it is the end of the world without their social media for contact or depend on their music. They need to learn there are other ways to socialize and listen to music. No one said they will like it. It is our job to keep them safe until they can get some better judgment and are able to make better decisions in their life. These are hard realities in today's world. Keeping yourself informed on the latest technology is the best you can do.
One useful site is http://www.gadgetcoach.com.au. Here you can get information in the news section on setting parental controls.
Carolyn Lantzy Nelson is a seasoned Clinical Social Worker and Play Therapist. She has been in the mental health field for over 20 years. She has published her first book called Unbridled Gifts Bipolar Disorder--A Family Affair put out by Tate Publishers. She writes for her Blog at: http://www.carolynlantzynelson.WordPress.com. She can be reached at [email protected].
A new poll released by Netmums revealed shocking statistics on internet use by children. The survey of 825 children aged between seven and 16 and 1,127 adults showed that 16.7% of parents allowed children three years old or younger to go online.