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Technology: If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em

When it comes to technology and teenagers I have decided that if you can’t beat ‘em, then join ‘em. I know that some parents feel very strongly about the advances in technology and that they are messing some kids up. Not only are there the bigger issues with the dangers that can be found in technology (pedophiles accessing our children, sexting, and so on) but there are other smaller concerns that are just as important. Some critics of technology feel that our children are lacking in social skills because there is less face-to-face interacting and more technological interacting. Some teachers … Continue reading →

When Doing Less is More

Today I encountered a moment of clarity in the midst of a cloud of confusion. Suddenly the hazy mist was cleared away and I realized that I needed to do less to do more. I’ve said before in the fatherhood blog (and probably even this education blog) that I’m addicted to technology and productivity blogs. There are too many to name but just do a web search for “productivity blog” and you’ll get the idea. Somehow, over time, all of these influences coalesced and finally sunk in. Recently I’ve been reflecting and ranting about technology difficulties in the classroom and … Continue reading →

More Dangers of Technology

As an educator there is nothing more important to me than transmitting knowledge. The name of the game, essentially, is a transfer of information between individuals. This is not simply a one-way street as I often learn a great deal from my students. The general flow, however, is one from the teacher to the students. Anything that aids that flow is helpful… and anything that hinders it is counter-productive. Great technologies have aided that flow. The printing press enabled the creation of affordable books for the masses. These books transmitted knowledge and thus aided education. While book costs are sometimes … Continue reading →

What Teen Girls Experience Online

It is well known that adult women experience harassment online. It can be stressful, frustrating, and abusive. What many parents do not realize is that teenage girls are also experiencing online harassment. It might be a good idea to sit down and ask your teenager about what she has faced via social media. The Pew Research Center did a study called “Teens, Technology, and Romantic Relationships”. Both male and female teens were included in the study. The teens were between the ages of 13 and 17. All of them were American. Some of the study revealed data about how teens … Continue reading →

Bedtime for Devices

I was always one of those parents who had a bag full of “nevers.”  You know what I mean.  “I will never allow my child to…”  Fill in the blank. It’s so easy before you have children to say what you will never do.  And it’s just as easy when they are young to say what you will never do when they get older. Sure, some of my “nevers” I have stuck to.  But there have been a few I tossed to the side.  And in all honesty, at times it was a matter of not wanting to battle. One … Continue reading →

Most Teens Hide What They Do Online

A few months ago I attended a parenting class at my church. One of the dads was expressing how it is our job to monitor our teen’s use of technology. Of course that makes sense, right? But as I pointed out, it isn’t always so easy. Let’s face it…teens usually know more about technology than we do. That means they can get around things. For instance, some parents look at the computer’s history to see which websites their children have been on. But most kids know how to clear out their history. A recent survey from McAfee found that 71% … Continue reading →

A Locked Front Door and a Wide Open Web: Unlimited Access

It’s interesting what we let into our homes and our lives and what we keep out. It’s interesting what we consider dangerous or a threat. Rarely do we know our neighbors anymore. We don’t let our kids walk home by themselves from school or play unsupervised in our neighborhoods. We tend to lock up our houses, deadbolt on the doors, and bar the windows. We keep out tangible, understandable threats but often leave ourselves wide open to the other kinds of dangers. Technology is a connection point. it is the way we reach out and connect – to information, to … Continue reading →

Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

We live in a world of technology. We are constantly bombarded with the latest and greatest of everything. They even make cell phones for toddlers to call mom and dad now. With the constant growth in technology it is important to educate your children about staying safe online. Children who are educated about internet safety are much more likely to take precautions to stay safe than those who aren’t. The dangers of the online world are rampant. There are predators lurking around every corner, waiting for them to make a mistake. Talk to your children about the importance of staying … Continue reading →

Mom Poses Her Nude Daughter on the Internet

My husband and I have frequent talks about how we can protect our kids from the dangers of technology, including the Internet. We want to make sure that they don’t become victims of any pedophiles or other predators that are out there, or come across images or text that would harm them. While we do put some pictures of them on Facebook, we use the full security controls to ensure that only the friends and family that we want to have access to the photos of our kids can see them. Of course, these are wholesome images of them doing … Continue reading →

Consequences of Sexting

Sometimes it is really hard to get teenagers to understand the seriousness of some issues…for instance, texting while driving or the dreaded problem of sexting. I read recently of a 16-year-old girl who was dating a man over the age of 18. She sent him nude pictures of herself and when she finally decided to call it quits, he blackmailed her with those pictures. Thankfully she did the right thing and went to her parents who called the police and now the man is facing criminal charges. However we can’t be so quick to dismiss the original problem…she sent nude … Continue reading →