Keep in mind most of the social media realm is truly adult swim, the minimum age to engage in social networks for this industry is 13, and many parents are allowing children to access networks at much younger ages. And there is no doubt that monitoring your child’s friend network is challenging in a dynamic environment where it is easy for kids to gain access to social media apps without parental oversight, and at the same time it is so important that you are able to impart your wisdom about with which networks your child engages, when (age-appropriate) and who they choose to allow in their own social network.

Over the past decade, I have had hundreds of conversations with law enforcement, educators, parents, youth and psychologists about the impact of cyber communications on children and families. Cyber citizenship issues for children today are well defined by the most uncivil, risky and criminal behavior law enforcement and educators observe about children using social media and texting: Sexting (sending inappropriate photos) is more common than parents realize Gossip is rampant Abuse of drugs and alcohol Bullying common - our children are not at peace in their communities Easier for pedophiles to groom victims because emotionally vulnerable kids using social media may be easily convinced that a stranger really cares about them. (A couple of weeks ago a 15-year old Sacramento girl met a stranger via social media and ran away with him because she believed he loved her. )

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.

Return to Table of Contents: 2013 Winter Edition Banana Moments

Psychotherapist Debbie Pincus, MS, LMHC, works with families and children who struggle with the modern day collision courses of the parent-child relationship. She observes that today’s generation of parents is closer to their children and so it is harder to separate lives.

This blurring of the line between the life of the child and parent has been …

The over functioning parent emerges when parenthood is perceived as an “achievement” and we blur the lines between our own life outcomes and those of our children.

CyberParenting Topics on The Fish 103.9FM Tuesdays

In hundreds of conversations with law enforcement, educators and pastors, it is clear that kids are doing things that most of us find “unthinkable” and many parents are caught off guard or remain ignorant.  From sending and receiving inappropriate or sexually explicit photos, gossip, bullying and abusing medications/alcohol, children are exposed to and engaging in activities that are beneath them at …

This week I came across a very provocative article in Forbes about the apparent co-dependency between baby boomer parents and their adult children referred to as “entitled Millennials”.  The article pointed out how parents are inextricably linked to children in ways that could be considered micro-managing or “helicopter parenting.”  The author, Maureen Henderson, cited a case where a University of Cincinnati student secured a restraining order against her parents who monitored all …

CyberParenting Topics on TheFish103.9FM Tuesdays.

Are you and your children having conversations about the things in life that really matter?

Children need to believe that rules and boundaries exist because their lives are important; because they are precious and loved. And most importantly because their personal liberty is a product of honoring the correct boundaries.

The correct boundaries reflect God’s love which respects the individual and holds the individual accountable. God has given us the …

CyberParenting Topics on TheFish103.9FM Tuesdays returns January 8, 2013

 

In a cyber-powered world it is easy to believe we can “Google” everything we need to know.  This power to access information is very seductive, especially for young folks as discussed in a recent Birmingham Science City survey about where kids …

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.