Sunday, September 19, 2010

Teens and Technology


As a high school teacher who is surrounded by teen agers all day, I am aware of the impact that technology has had on this age group. I want to preface this post by saying that technology is a wonderful thing. I am, obviously, not bashing technology all together because without it...well...I couln't have this blog. What I am about to address has been weighing heavily on my mind since school started, and the sermon this morning made me think about it even more. So here goes...

Over-exposure to technology is stressing our kids out. They are constantly connected to one another. When I was a kid, we got a break from the drama at school when we were home in the evenings. When we wanted to talk to our friends, we had to call them on their home phone. We wouldn't DARE call after 9 pm, and we tried not to call during dinner. Our kids now days have no concept of when is appropriate to call/text one another. They never have a break from each other. Gossip spreads like wildfire thanks to facebook and texting. We all know it's easier to say things when we're not face to face. Well, these kids can be so toxic with the things they are texting to one another. What I'm trying to say is, our kids need a break every once in a while from this continuous connection. The funny thing is, I will have kids receive texts during class...FROM THEIR PARENTS!!! What? There is no reason to have immediate contact with your kids when they are at school. If there is an emergency, or you need to get a message to your kids, call the office! They'll gladly get the message to your child!

We are allowing our kids to think that having a cell phone--fully equipped with pics, text and internet--is as important as breathing, eating, and sleeping. It's so important that they try to text while driving. They think they must sleep with their phones. Nonsense. There is no reason for our kids to sleep with cell phones in their rooms. Parents...take the phone at night...there, I said it. Take the phone from them!!! Tell them to leave their phones off during the school day!!

Let your kids know that you are going to keep an eye on the things they are doing. It is your right and your JOB as a parent. Everything that our kids are doing online and on their phones is there forever! They are making decisions that will affect them forever! Stick your nose in their business. Friend them on facebook (if they don't accept, they lose their internet priveleges). Check the texts on their phone from time to time (let them know that deleting messages will lead you to assume they have something to hide), put the computer in a public room of the house. Who cares if they don't like it. Who cares if they throw a fit. Put your foot down! Privacy?? If your kids are getting bent out of shape because you are invading their pricacy, they are probably hiding something. Besides, they have no privacy at school--we can search their lockers, backpacks, purses and cars--you, the parent have those rights and more!

But here's the hard part...we have to lead them by example. We have to show them that it is ok to put the phone down and give each other face to face contact. Don't text and drive! Don't talk on the phone loudly in a public place! Don't talk on the phone when you are in a meeting (would you believe that I had parents on their cell phones at open house??!!). Don't call them while they are at school. Don't answer the phone while you are eating dinner. Set aside some technology-free time each day. We would all benefit from some unplugged time each day. Even if it's just an hour...turn off the phone, tv, computer, and video games. Read a book! Talk to your kids! Play a board game! Teach your kids to enjoy down time and quiet time.

Take the time during the technology-break to have conversations with your kids. It is much easier to have meaningful conversation when one or both parties is not texting or answering their phones. This would be a great time to talk about what's going on in your kids' lives, and to talk about really important stuff--smoking, drugs, sex...we have to talk about that stuff to our kids. It's more important than ever. They are being so strongly influenced by technology and media. If we don't have these conversations, they'll just be influenced by the people they are seeing on tv and things they see online...you don't want that! AND if you have these times on a regular basis where you and your kids can communicate, your relationship will be so positive that they'll see and understand why you are being so nosey when it comes to their technology use.

So, since we all know that technology isn't going to go away, we have to learn how to keep it under control. It is no longer good enough to say "technology isn't my thing". Be proactive and PARENT your kids when it comes to technology use.

4 comments:

  1. Very well said. I can't believe how much has changed since I was in high school! And it wasn't very long ago. I love technology as well, but the abuse of it is leading kids more downhill than up. I am sorry to say that I have a 20 year old sister who still can not spell a lot of words right (I love her to death), because text speak and the distraction of technology has made a whole generation of kids kinda dumb.

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  2. YES! Well said! Our 3 kids share a cell phone and we, as the bill paying parents, have the right to ask for it at any time (they don't have internet on it either). We have also added Safeeyes Interet blocker to our home and Tom and my cell phones. Only I have the code and we receive a weekly email from Safeeyes that tells us what and when stuff has been viewed. If any questionable topic is searched, we're notified. The only computer not in a public space is my work computer and anytime it's used for private use, the office door is open. We've been called strict - YEAH for us! I think everyone parent should be and shame on those who don't.

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  3. Thanks for being brave and getting the word out there, Lori!
    I don't have teenagers anymore, but I have a son who had major problems in jr and sr high school. Peer pressure was extreme. He was a leader and a follower. And he would try anything. He was trying so hard to be noticed that he went to great lengths to do it. We sent him to military school in Canada! He came back a different person. When he was gone, I went to the mall and told my daughter: " these kids are worse than Todd and he is in Military school".
    It is a hard job to be a parent. But for your kids sake you must do it. I had many people, including people at church tell me that I could only do so much and that I had done everything. I would not stop trying to help my son until I KNEW I had done everything!
    So many parents today are worried about themselves, relationships that they are in, etc, that they are not focused on their child. These kids need you! They did not ask to come into this world! You put them here! Don't worry about being a cool parent! Don't let the child influence you by saying "everyone is doing it". Who cares? I told my kids I loved them and I did not care who was doing it. If I did not feel comfortable in a situation, my answer was no. I found with my son, that he was testing my boundaries. He was testing the teachers at school and he tested every adult he met! Sadly, most the time, he won! The sad part is, he did not want to win. He wanted to know where his boundaries were. Mine is an extreme case and most your readers will not have to go to this extreme. But I want to encourage all parents to do what they have to do to parent their children well. Show them their boundaries and keep them intact! You go momma Bunting! You are doing a great job!

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  4. EXCELLENT post! The kids don't have phones because they are kids. They don't "need" them. Mine also aren't allowed to use the computer except for homework during the week.

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