I just recently got my Mom a new cell phone, because her old one was not working as well as it used to. She also wanted a bigger keyboard so she could text my kids (her Grandchildren.) Her old phone only let you text on the numbers...wow it seems like forever since I had a phone that did that! So I got her a very simple but upgraded phone, and now....she cannot figure it out. She is technologically challenged. She could not figure out how to wake it up after the screen went dark and was voicing her frustration. My six year old grabbed the phone and said here I will show you. Zip, zip in a flash he had it working for her.
This got me thinking that kid can run my laptop, the Xbox, my iphone, my Kindle like he invented them all, and older people seem to have so much trouble with it. I am old really I remember when I was a kid my aunt got a microwave and I had never seen one before. I used to run our VCR in our living room with a corded remote! So my generation has maybe become accustomed to learning new technology every time you turn around, but not my Mom's generation? Why is that?
Then if you look at it in another perspective my generation was possibly very lucky because we had to use our imagination to play and that possibly brought on some of these new fangled techno gadgets! I was very limited on the amount of TV I watched because we only had three channels, and that was really only on clear days. IF in fact I was lucky enough to find a show that I wanted to watch, typically my Grandfather would come along and shut it off because it was as he called it "Foolishness!"
So how to I save my son's imagination and give him a chance to grow up without all the violence and trauma from what he can see online and sometimes on TV? Moms and Dads have to set limits, rules, and have a ton of input in their activities. I don't let my son have free range to the internet right now he is only six so I have tons of parental controls. But I have to be constantly monitoring because he is so smart. I have to also check each app BEFORE he his allowed to download them, (naturally I only get the free ones anyhow.) But they still have to be checked. This app can also help us with great tips and advice to help to keep kits safe online at least:
The More You
Know Learning Series, in collaboration
with NBC News, has launched Growing Up
Online, the FREE eBook for parents to
keep their kids safe on the Internet!
Our kids have
never known a world without the Internet.
They’re spending more and more time on the
web, so teaching them about using
technology responsibly and safely is
critical. Use the #GrowingUpOnline Blog
App and take the quiz to see if your child
is ready to safely surf the web!
Download the
FREE Growing Up Online eBook and be sure
to watch all four entertaining comic
book stories as a family, which show
real situations that may occur when your
kids go online.
This free eBook
provides easy-to-use information that
addresses the growing concern about kids’
online privacy and cyberbullying in a
unique and engaging way. Growing Up Online
is packed with important tips that every
parent should know!
And use these helpful tips too:
To enter to win Dr.Seuss’ THE LORAX DVD & Blu-ray Combo Pack use the Raffelcopter below!
ENTER TODAY Giveaway ends on 9/25 at 12 am! I will need your address right away too! Winner has only 8 hours to respond!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The prize will be sent via FedEx or USPS. No P.O. Boxes please. Growing Up Online supplied these materials to me for promotion purposes. All opinions are my own. This contest, like all others on this blog are subject to local law and the official rules. Giveaway ends on 9-25-13 at 12 am. One winner will be notified by email and because of time restrictions the WINNER must contact me back within 8 hours with their mailing address. Giveaway open to the U.S. and Canada
We need to put filters and parental locks on the internet to keep our kiddos safe.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win! :)
Bekki
You have stalker that you have to watch out for!! So have to put a parental lock the internet! Thanks for the chance!!
ReplyDeleteWe use parental controls and talk about the dangers.
ReplyDeleteWe watched the videos and the kids really enjoyed them. Taught them how to stay safe while on the internet.
ReplyDeleteI teach my kids to only accept friends you really know in person. Never add a stranger.
ReplyDeleteMonitoring search history.
ReplyDeleteall set for the net!
ReplyDeleteI install pop-up blockers.
ReplyDeleteI like the pop-ups and spam video the best.
ReplyDeleteThe quiz results say that we're all set for the net.
ReplyDeleteI posted on fb the link is https://www.facebook.com/meegan.whitford.5/posts/
ReplyDeleteThe kids really liked the little videos and learned some new things and were full of questions glad we watched them
ReplyDeleteWe did download this book and I did look through it but I think I will read the book to them or have them read it when they are a bit older they are currently 5 and 7 so they don't know alot of the items like cache and how things work. other then using an app for looking up something for school or a game they do not currently have access to anything else.
ReplyDelete