Monday
Jan112010
Tech Talk: Digital Parenting 101
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 03:32PM
If I left Jack to his own "devices" (his Nintendo DS or Leapster, among others), I'm pretty sure he would test the limits of how long the human child can go without water and sleep. Like most male brains that age, Jack's is obsessed with two things: video games and poop humor, which thankfully have not become too interwined.
That's just one of the reasons I decided it was important to check out the exhibitors and panelists at last weekend's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This gaming, gadget, entertainment and communications granddaddy of tradeshows provides a roadmap to our future, giving us a glimpse into how we will consume entertainment, get work done at the office, chat with our friends, access the media, stay organized, get from one place to the next and relax.
The key message for parents? Stay in the game. Don't fall victim to the I-can't-set-the-clock-on-my-VCR syndrome. Educate yourself on everything your kids are interested in and participate in social media.
"When you see all the gadgets and gizmos, it reinforces the fact that we need to be literate," says James Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that helps parents navigate the rapidly-evolving gaming, entertainment and communications world. The San Francisco-based, nonpartisan organization takes a "sanity over censorship" approach to evaluating all the media and entertainment out there, stressing the fact that we can't throw a blanket over everything and hope our kids won't see it.
Steyer, a father of four, attended CES and is excited about all the new technology coming our way. "But it's critical that they [parents] be digitally literate," he says. "We have to educate ourselves, our kids, our teachers."
It's our parental responsibility, he adds, to know about the technology that's out there. Join Facebook. Learn the ins and outs of Twitter. Play your kids' games. "You can't bury your head in the sand; parents have to do their homework," Steyer adds.
My daughter Kate created this self-portrait using the iPhone app Old Booth.
With all this new technology, of course comes parental anxiety – and even more technology that will not only create solutions but also fear. What about "sexting"? Cyberbullying? Sharing stuff on Facebook that you'd rather they didn't? Those are real issues, but parents shouldn't think that monitoring devices, software or built-in GPS tracking systems are the only answer.
"Education and responsibility are the right approach," he says. Set clear limits for phone and screen time and talk to your kids (early and often) about the ethics and responsibilities – as well as dangers – of these devices and communication tools.
The good news, Steyer adds, is that all this new technology opens up new possibilities. And schools and governments need to integrate new technology, too. Teachers should encourage children to blog. Parents should download podcasts. Kids should be app savvy. We should play games with our families, text our children and Skype the grandparents.
For a good start, check out Common Sense's New Year's resolutions for the tech-ready family. And then get ready for the brave new world, coming to you in 2010.
That's just one of the reasons I decided it was important to check out the exhibitors and panelists at last weekend's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This gaming, gadget, entertainment and communications granddaddy of tradeshows provides a roadmap to our future, giving us a glimpse into how we will consume entertainment, get work done at the office, chat with our friends, access the media, stay organized, get from one place to the next and relax.
The key message for parents? Stay in the game. Don't fall victim to the I-can't-set-the-clock-on-my-VCR syndrome. Educate yourself on everything your kids are interested in and participate in social media.
"When you see all the gadgets and gizmos, it reinforces the fact that we need to be literate," says James Steyer, CEO and founder of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that helps parents navigate the rapidly-evolving gaming, entertainment and communications world. The San Francisco-based, nonpartisan organization takes a "sanity over censorship" approach to evaluating all the media and entertainment out there, stressing the fact that we can't throw a blanket over everything and hope our kids won't see it.
Steyer, a father of four, attended CES and is excited about all the new technology coming our way. "But it's critical that they [parents] be digitally literate," he says. "We have to educate ourselves, our kids, our teachers."
It's our parental responsibility, he adds, to know about the technology that's out there. Join Facebook. Learn the ins and outs of Twitter. Play your kids' games. "You can't bury your head in the sand; parents have to do their homework," Steyer adds.
My daughter Kate created this self-portrait using the iPhone app Old Booth.With all this new technology, of course comes parental anxiety – and even more technology that will not only create solutions but also fear. What about "sexting"? Cyberbullying? Sharing stuff on Facebook that you'd rather they didn't? Those are real issues, but parents shouldn't think that monitoring devices, software or built-in GPS tracking systems are the only answer.
"Education and responsibility are the right approach," he says. Set clear limits for phone and screen time and talk to your kids (early and often) about the ethics and responsibilities – as well as dangers – of these devices and communication tools.
The good news, Steyer adds, is that all this new technology opens up new possibilities. And schools and governments need to integrate new technology, too. Teachers should encourage children to blog. Parents should download podcasts. Kids should be app savvy. We should play games with our families, text our children and Skype the grandparents.
For a good start, check out Common Sense's New Year's resolutions for the tech-ready family. And then get ready for the brave new world, coming to you in 2010.
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