Keeping Your Kids Safe with Technology

Keeping Your Kids Safe with Technology 

I was raised in a different climate, “The 70’s”. The 70’s were not just defined by the “Glimmer Twins,” for me it was a wonderful time to be a kid. Parents concern and worry were by far less then what parents now have to think about. We wait at the bus stop for the elementary school bus and come midway into middle school and we allow them to walk to the bus on their own in the morning. I don’t know about every mom, but I then watched from afar, needing to know their little feet actually got on the bus. At the beginning of this “creeping” you only hoped they made it and got off the bus and into school. But, as your children grow, so do parents. [Although I admittedly drove my second to middle school on most day.s] Then comes high school and you’re done creeping the school bus. [I actually began this creeping the day I put my little one on the day camp bus, way back when, when she was around 5 years old.]

How do you grow up techy with your kids? Be ahead of them and know your technology and how you can use it to effort to keep your children safe. [And for your peace of mind!] Your children’s cell phone should come with rules. The first understanding is, “I pay the cell phone bill, you need to do your part.” In high school this means if your child goes anywhere without you they need to send a quick text, “Im here.” When my first born went to the mall and another parent dropped her and a friend off, I expected a text saying that she arrived. I also expected a text saying, “So-and-so’s Mom picked us up and we’re on the way home.” It isn’t an issue of trusting the other parent; it is learning to respect the concern of your parents. When my first born got her driver’s license this became paramount. Make it easy for them by instructing them to program something into their cell phone like, "I’m here.”  Start off with your expectations and stick to them. It makes for building the right rapport for the future.  Even at 22 years old, I expect my daughter to text me when she arrives somewhere and then leaves. And, she does.

I am not sure I ever understood parents' logic by using the cell phone as a pawn for things like good grades, or taking the cell phone away for misbehaving or for not making the best decision or for a bad grade. My parenting skills tell me that’s just cutting my nose to spite my face, as I am THE one who is teaching the proper way to communicate with me. I suggest, do not ever use your child's cell phone as a tactic for them to excel or listen. Not falling into that trap helped me tremendously. 

There were TWO occasions my first born had to use her cell phone in the middle of a day at HHS. In the midst of the high school remodel some hot tar leaked from the roof into the computer classroom, igniting a fire. The school was evacuated, but the kids were left running rampant and scared within the few immediate blocks of the school. I remember the text and call like it was yesterday. At the time I was driving a Tahoe SUV, which I was grateful for. The commotion was indescribable. It was chaotic. You could feel it as soon as you got a block from the high school. There was no place to stop. I drove my SUV up onto the grass across from [the newer] small parent pick-up loop that is there now. This was the only place to stop so my daughter could get in. This actually happened twice! Was I thrilled my daughter was able to communicate with me as this all happened? More than I could ever put into words, as my kids safety is my #1 concern. 

Twitter has become part of my communication with my son, a senior. I have been tweeting since the beginning of 2009, but Twitter has just become an integral part of communication this year. So, this morning when I overslept I sent him a tweet to ask him if he wanted me to drop off lunch or did he have money with him.

It comes down to educating your kids, knowing what they are up to, knowing when to say no and knowing when to say yes. I try to not have to say no to my kids, but then again, I am lucky to have wonderful kids!