…In this networked environment, there are three realms of security:

Physical (our person and belongings, home and car)
Cyber (smart phones/social media and other applications)
Hearts and minds (beliefs, values, emotions)

Fear sometimes keeps us hyper-focused on the physical and cyber realms of security because it makes us feel like we are in control. And yet the most important part of cyber parenting is engaging hearts and minds of children so they can be self-governing in the network culture. Below are some of the problems with fear-based parenting:

In this “it is all about me” world of texting and social media, children can know way too much for their own good. More importantly, they are easily conditioned to keep the parent out of the equation when they are searching for answers and they risk becoming lost in the faulty-thinking of peer communities that frankly do not respect the individual.

It is easy to be honest when the truth suits us, but when we want to avoid the truth (like a poor choice bringing shame, or a person’s reaction to the truth), or a desire to manipulate others to submit to our own agenda, then we are all tempted to lie.

One of the most important things we can do as parents is not be fearful when dealing with our children’s circumstances. If your child gets into trouble, the most important thing to do is not freak out, so they can have an opportunity to relate to you about it and seek your wise counsel. We first must be able to help our children know they are forgiven, and their poor or risky choices will have consequences which they can endure, and they can stand corrected.

This school year marks the implementation of State of California legislation, AB9, AB746 and AB1156, which updates the education code regarding sanctions against bullying. Who is the bully? — Sunday, October 14, 2012, 1PM in Roseville, at Barnes and Noble….

Missing are rites of passage with regard to preparing children for the cyber wilderness. And yet we are thrust into the digital fast lane with children placed in the driver seat as more children log into social media apps that are really meant for adults.

TheFish103.9FM CyberParenting Topics Tuesdays

The other day a friend was telling me about how a young child sat down to read a book with his mom, I mean an old fashioned paper book, and when it came time to turn the page, the child swiped the page as if working the touch screen on an iPad or Kindle.

You can imagine how perplexing it must have been for the small child.  Was the book broken?…

This week marks the release of the iPhone 5, which promises more computing power and a larger screen, illustrating emphatically how the convergence of technology has brought the power of the PC into the palm of our hands. Smart phones and personal mobile devices promise convenient, easy access to web-enabled applications and communications.

As wireless Internet devices offer children greater ease of access to people, applications and information, parental oversight remains even more imperative to groom younger children to set and maintain personal boundaries in the net.

TheFish103.9FM CyberParenting Topics Tuesday mornings.

Over the last two weeks, I met with incoming freshmen at Granite Bay High School in Granite Bay, and Oakmont High School in Roseville to talk about “how to rule your world in the net”. The objective was to get the students thinking about their own personal power to be in charge of the cyber applications, and engage in conversation with parents at home.

We opened the conversation with the …

CyberParenting Topics on TheFish103.9FM Tuesday mornings.

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The cyber technology is incredibly seductive and encourages folks to “let it all hang out”. The impulsive nature of a point and click environment (i.e., who is going to stop me?), needs to be countered by the reality there is no privacy on-line and there are real-world consequences for inappropriate conduct.

So the role of the parent on Facebook is that of a guardian, much like a lifeguard, …