My Child and Technology in the Home
Email 1
Subject line: My Child and Technology in the home
Copy/Paste the following email
Parents,
Maybe it was a Super Nintendo, Oregon Trail on the school computer, or immersing yourself in episodes of Full House, but our exposure to technology was vastly different from what our children experience. They’re inundated with technology EVERYWHERE they turn. They even have the ability to carry their technology around with them inside their pocket!
Does that mean we just hand them an Ipod, unlimited Netflix and YouTube access, and an unmonitored TV and allow them to handle technology however they deem fit? This month we want to help you as a parent understand the pros and cons of technology and how to manage it in a way that sets your child up for success.
How do we manage screen time such as TV, movies, video games, etc. with our child, and WHY should we put parameters around their use of technology anyway? This month’s video is going to tackle these questions, plus more from the home side (TV, movies, video games, etc.).
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/86560654/63bc8c27e1
The second email for this month will include ideas for assuring your child’s safety with technology with mobile devices. Be looking for that in your inbox soon!
Your partner,
Children’s Pastor
Email 2
Subject line: My Child’s Mobile Device
Copy/Paste the following email
Parents,
Technology is everywhere! It is neither good nor bad, it’s what we make of it. Most kids today have some sort of mobile device. We want to take some time to figure out how we build boundaries around our child’s use of mobile devices.
Initially we need to address the real question: Do children need boundaries with technology? There are tons of bad things that COULD happen as your child uses his/her mobile device and setting boundaries on those will help protect them. BOUNDARIES GIVE PROTECTION.
In Exodus 16 we read about the Israelites in the wilderness. They’re starving and begin to complain. God miraculously provides manna and quail for them WITH some boundaries. The instructions are that every person is to collect ONLY what they need FOR THAT DAY. However, there are people that decide they want to collect enough for tomorrow too, and the extra gets infested with maggots!
Yes, our kids need boundaries with their mobile devices. We can help provide boundaries a few ways:
- Limit time. Many apps and settings will actually monitor your child’s amount of time on their mobile device. Have your child turn in their device at a certain time every evening.
- Limit content. Unlimited access to Netflix and YouTube greatly increase your child’s chance of stumbling upon inappropriate content. Both of these apps have safeguards built in that can be set on your child’s mobile device. Surfing the internet via mobile device is a disaster waiting to happen. Take all internet surfing capability OFF of the mobile device OR give them a SAFE browser such as McGruff Safeguard Browser, K9 Protection Browser or AVG Family Safety.
- Limit apps. BE SMART about apps, they are not all OK. Many parents allow children to have apps like snap chat-which allows easy access to nude pictures, and Kik Messenger-an anonymous texting app. Know the app your child is requesting. You can check out reviews of apps for kids at commonsensemedia.org and iparent.tv.
The sex talk used to be the awkward talk that parents had to have, and, YES, you still need to have that one. But in today’s society we must have talk with our children about the risks associated with technology. They should know WHY boundaries exist. There are tons of resources out there that provide boundaries for kids’ mobile devices, so take some time to do a little research, and set your child up for technological success!
Thanks!
Children’s Pastor
Video Script
Every generation of parents has issues they have to face that their parents never had to deal with. One of those issues for this generation of moms and dads is the impact of technology and media on the hearts and minds of their kids. We all have so many questions and our prayer is that this online parenting class gives you a plan of attack when it comes to technology and media.
There’s no way that any parent would every take their child to Times Square in New York city, give them 500 dollars, and leave them for a day to have a good time. We know that idea is absurd but parents all over the word drop their kids off in the world of technology every single day with no boundaries and the entire world a website, movie, or instagram away.
The connection between parenting and technology is crucial because of the role God has given us as parents. It’s simple. It’s our job as parents to pass down our faith, help kids make wise choices, and protect them when they can’t protect themselves.
In the Bible we find a verse where King Solomon is giving advice to his kids and he says in Proverbs 3:7…”Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.”
When it comes to technology our kids feel very confident. Many times they understand how to utilize it better than us as parents. When it comes to technology we have the responsibility of framing how our kids use it and how we can place boundaries that will guard their hearts and minds. Technology in and of itself is neutral, it’s not evil, it’s how we use it that determines it’s value. You as a parent need to process what your family plan is to help your kids use technology well.
You may have heard the statistics but let me remind you of them while you are watching…
Average age of exposure to pornography for boys and girls is 8, often stumbled upon through use of an iPod, tablet, or laptop.
Today’s children are spending an average of seven hours a day on entertainment media.
Studies have shown that excessive media use can lead to attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders, and obesity.
Today we want to help you process some boundaries you can establish for your family when it comes to screen time at home. You know your kids want to spend time watching TV, YouTube, and Netflix so the first step for parents is to develop a plan for their kids when they are at home. Here are some tips for healthy screen time at home…
Turn the television off during dinnertime and when driving around town in the car. // Establish some natural down times when it comes for tech for the entire family. Start a habit of having conversations when riding around in town , not just watching DVD’s. Also dinner time is a prime opportunity to actually catch up and look your kids in the eyes.
Set a good example for children. // Read together, go outside and ride bikes, play board games, do arts and crafts, or find other non-electronic activities to do together.
Don’t put televisions or computers in bedrooms. // We know this may be hard, but when you place these in public spaces then you provide automatic accountability and access.
Let children earn and appreciate electronic entertainment time. // For example, set a rule for no TV or video games until the weekend, and only after homework, chores and school activities for the week have been completed.
These are all just suggestions and the common bond is that they help you think about your plan when it comes to tech time at home. This month we have provided you with a media contract you can craft as a family. You should get that in an email from your church this month.
Later in the month we will send you session 2 of this month’s online parenting class and help you craft a plan for the mobile side of technology! Thanks for joining us this month and don’t allow technology to intimidate you, just make a plan!
Weekly tweets from you to parents:
TIP: Choose a hashtag for your tweets and use it consistently. That will tell twitter to store a list of your tweets in one place for later reference.
- TWEET #1-Take time to develop a plan of attack when it comes to technology and your child #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #2-commonsensemedia.org Reviews for books, movies, music, and apps #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #3-Projected by 2015 there will be enough smart phones to cover every person on the planet TWICE #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #4-What are the established “screen free zones” for your family? #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #5-1 Corinthians 10:31-So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #6-With technology our kids have the world at their fingertips #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #7-Experts recommend parents be very involved in their child’s experience with electronic devices #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #8-80% of parents don’t know how to monitor their child’s online activity/check out this month’s OPC #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #9-If your 9 year old knows more about technology than you, do some research, get smart #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #10-Learning by “co-viewing” is recommended when it comes to all things media related with kids #urchurchparentministry