Family Matters
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
children and technology.
Please tell me your opinion on the following things...
1. When should a child be allowed to have their own email?
2. Is it a parents responsiblity to monitor the email?
3. Should the child know that parent is monitoring the email?
4. When should a child have their own cell phone that isn't just for emergency purposes but for texting and calling?
5. Should a parent monitor texts/photos/etc?
6. Should the child know the parent is monitoring the email?
Re: children and technology.
1. 13
2. yes
3. yes
4. when they start driving
5. yes
6. see #3
A lot of it depends on the maturity and personality of the child. Do you have a situation in mind?
1. When should a child be allowed to have their own email? 2. Is it a parents responsiblity to monitor the email?3. Should the child know that parent is monitoring the email?
My husband and I are big technology buffs, and I'm all for having our child grow up learning to use technology. I would say that middle elementary age would be okay for CLOSELY MONITORED e-mail usage to family and friends. When I would stop the "closely monitoring" part would depend on when I felt that child knew enough about the internet and responsible usage. I would probably back off some around middle school, and more around high school.
4. When should a child have their own cell phone that isn't just for emergency purposes but for texting and calling?
If we have a landline, I don't see a reason for casual texting/calling until high school. If we don't have a landline, I'd say 7th grade.
5. Should a parent monitor texts/photos/etc? 6. Should the child know the parent is monitoring the email?
I think it's more important that the child know a parent can and will.
Agree with all of this. Especially with # 4!
As for # 1, they could have email at that age w/very close adult supervision, parental controls, computer in common family area of the house - not in their bedroom, etc.
Oh yeah - that too. Computer needs to be in a shared area.
1. When should a child be allowed to have their own email?
I'd say around 13 but that is subject to change.
2. Is it a parents responsiblity to monitor the email?
Yes!!!
3. Should the child know that parent is monitoring the email?
Of course.
4. When should a child have their own cell phone that isn't just for emergency purposes but for texting and calling?
When they can pay for it.
5. Should a parent monitor texts/photos/etc?
If the child is paying for their phone (see above) then it is not right that the parent should monitor.
Skip the emails --- you don't need one until at least freshman year in high school.
Cell phone: we will provide an emergency/around town phone but no texting; they can get their own when they are 18 and can pay for it themselves...yes it will be monitored, yes they will know
1. When should a child be allowed to have their own email?
Put me in the old fart camp. High School at the earliest unless it's needed for school.
2. Is it a parents responsiblity to monitor the email?
Yes.
3. Should the child know that parent is monitoring the email?
Yes.
4. When should a child have their own cell phone that isn't just for emergency purposes but for texting and calling?
When they're 18 and graduated from high school and they pay for it.
5. Should a parent monitor texts/photos/etc?
Eh, if they're paying for it and 18, no.
6. Should the child know the parent is monitoring the phone?
If you were, yes.
1. I don't see the downside of email for a young child. I have an 8 yo neice who I would email if she wanted or had interest. I guess its more about allowing WHO can email back and forth.
2. Yes.
3. There should be no expectation of privacy for a child to use technology. None. The child should not expect unsupervised access and use of any account. The child should also continuously review with a parent/adult good and poor tech behavior.
4. I don't know. Affordability is a huge aspect. Who they want to text and call is another. I have a friend who's ex-H gave his 1st and 4th graders iPhones. That seems really weird.
5. Yes, see #3.
6. Yes, see #6. A child should expect how to be taught how to manage any outside communicartion and have that reviewed and improved from time to time.
Yes, YES - monitor your kids' cell phone and internet usage. They should know you are checking so they behave themselves. I prosecute juvenile delinquents for a living and you wouldn't believe the "sexting" cases we get where the parents are totally clueless that their kids have naked pictures of themselves or others on their phones. Don't be that parent. (Sexting can be charged as a felony, by the way.) Also, some kids have references to drugs and alcohol on their facebook pages and text messages. That's a problem you want to catch early.
Sorry to rant - I have a strong opinion on this!
Please visit my blog The Party Hostess
My read shelf:
1. When should a child be allowed to have their own email?
DD has her own now (age 9). It depends on the child.
2. Is it a parents responsiblity to monitor the email?
Yes!
3. Should the child know that parent is monitoring the email?
Yes!
4. When should a child have their own cell phone that isn't just for emergency purposes but for texting and calling?
DD doesn't have a phone yet (4th grade), but I can see her having one by 5th grade. I would have restrictions on it utnil she is in middle school (6th grade) at least. That's when kids do homework via the phone, etc.
5. Should a parent monitor texts/photos/etc?
Yes
6. Should the child know the parent is monitoring the email?
Yes!
1. Freshman in high school
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Freshman in high school
5. Yes
6. Yes