In 2006 I remember walking past 2 teenage girls at the high school where I worked. As I walked by I noticed them sitting next to each other on their “smart phones.” I stopped and asked them what they were doing and one of them told me that they were texted each other. I walked away confused and worried. That was 10 years ago. Today I’m not confused anymore, but I’m still worried. In 2015 Common Sense Media conducted a survey of teenagers and technology. They reported that both tweens and teens spend an inordinate amount time on their screens. Age 8-12 years of age spend 4 and a half hours a day on screens. Teenagers age 13-18 years of age spend an average of six and a have hours per day on screen. Yes, thats right. We can’t prevent our children from using technology. It’s their world and now it’s our world. 
Some parents today feel as though they have to give in to the behavioral expectations of teens. We must always remember that we are parents first. We must always make the tough decisions that don’t always feel good to our children or ourselves. We give children what they need, not what they want. Here are 5 important tips every parent must think about.
- Set the example- Your kids are watching everything you do. They watch you on the phone and how you use your device. Limit the amount of time you spend on the screen. Adults are not exempt from the overwhelming power of the media screen. If you can control your screen time, your children will also develop those skills.Establish clear and consistent expectations early for technology use- create a place in your home where all media goes and is out of site. Create a time period each night where no one uses media devices, even for 30 minutes. Help your child give attention to something else. Restrict recreational computer or media time. Be knowledgable about what shows or videos your kids are watching. Place all computers and televisions in the family room. Even while the family is on media devices or television, parents are able to monitor and interact.
- Manners and Technology- More and more it is becoming acceptable for children to text or have phones out in front of them while they are talking to someone in front of them. Kid’s have to be taught, explicitly, that texting while talking can make others feel bad, especially adults. Teenagers have to be guided to understand that eye contact is still an essential part of communication.
- Social Media- Restrict access to Facebook until High School. Yes, you heard me right. Most parents will give into this because the teenager will make you feel as though you are sending them to school without clothes on.
- Computers and Video Games- We all have to take some time to figure out how to control what comes through the devices. Today teenagers don’t have to wait until college to experience things that only college students used to experience. Today teenagers can grab it all on the device or smartphone. No matter what wireless device your child has, you must become familiar with it.
