“Over three-quarters of parents say they have to clarify the cryptic text-speak in their children’s texts and emails.” – The Telegraph We all know the basics. LOL (laugh out loud), BRB (be right back) and OMG (Oh My God). But the English language changes every day — as does the tech talk our kids use. … Continued
Thought 2017 was a great year for tv on Netflix? Think again! 2018 looks set to be equally impressive, with Netflix pledging $8 billion for new shows debuting this year. But that got us thinking. While tv shows come with age ratings, kids seldom pay attention to them. And all the while, online streaming services … Continued
Take it from a middle school teacher and mom: Kids need to manage their online activities — and parents need to help them do it. Article originally published by Commonsensemedia.org in September 2018 as part of Common Sense Media’s Parent Voices series, which provides a platform for opinions about parenting in the digital age. All ideas expressed … Continued
Easy tips for limiting kids’ computer, TV, game, and movie time. Article originally published by Commonsensemedia.org in January 2018. In many homes, getting kids to turn off their cell phones, shut down the video games, or quit YouTube can incite a revolt. And if your kids say they need to be online for schoolwork, you may not know when the research stops and … Continued
“Managing kids’ technology use was once much easier for parents. They switched off the television when a show was over or kept an eye on kids as they used the family computer in the living room,” – Alexis Hiniker, author of “Not at the Dinner Table”. Alexis is right, managing tech expectations used to be … Continued
So, you’ve bought the latest smartphone or tablet for your child and you want to personalise it. What a great idea! But what games should you be downloading for them? We know you don’t want games that are going to become as all-consumingly addictive as Minecraft. We know you also want ones that are safe … Continued
“The earlier we introduce screens, the more it affects the child’s brain development and the more likely they will have trouble managing their addiction to screens and technology later in life.” – Dr Laura Markham, Aha! Parenting There is no denying it. Kids – and their parents – are spending more and more time on screens than … Continued
Have you ever considered sending your child to rehab to help them overcome their addiction to the electronic screens of video games, smartphones and the like? While that may sound far-fetched to some parents who are themselves ‘screen addicts’, it’s an idea whose time has come. Some countries consider childhood screen addiction to be a … Continued
Attempting to limit my children’s screen time to less than two hours per day (like many experts have recommended) felt like a losing battle. Digital media is not going away and a good portion of my sons’ lives (and mine) is connected to technology. I began to realise that time monitoring in this day and … Continued