Snap this! Insta that!! My teens are on social media non-stop.
Your kids might be, as well. The trials and tribulations of social media often times do not stop on any of the digital platforms. The issues our kids have may intersect with school, outside activities, and even their work places. So, where do we draw the line…if we even draw one?
Our kids are becoming hard-wired to interact more via digital conversations like texting and “Snapchatting” vs the good ‘ole fashion art of the in-person conversation…or even the phone, for crying out loud. I’m not lol’ing, but instead smdh. Even virtual learning has impacted how our teens go through the learning process. It appears that we are drawing the lines using an Etch-A-Sketch, yet only controlling one knob (those that know will know!!). The line keeps shifting due to the demands on our kids.
Those demands aren’t just social ones; teens are expected to use technology during the learning process more and more. It makes it even more difficult to draw the line. So, circling back, as I continue to figure out the answer to the question: where do I draw that line?–I draw it with my wife and each of my teen sons. We have to decide together when and what apps are used. I know what some are thinking, “isn’t that giving power to your kids?” Yes. Yes we are.
They are teens and should have more say than sometimes we want them to have. We have to find that balance. They need to understand the boundaries. We have to trust them–which means trust what we have instilled in them. When drawing the line together, it makes it not only easier to build a foundation of trust, but empowers our teens to be active players in the decision-making process.
One belief that I hold true with ImPACTful Mentoring is: One path; one journey–together. The foundation of the PACT, the agreement to move on together as a cohesive unit, is vital to a family’s success. That cohesiveness is not easily obtained and may be inconsistent, but a family that wants to head in the same direction on the same path will work at it.
So, in my household, we monitor the apps, every so often ask about the content, and actually look at it too. Now if we could only find a great way to limit the screen time…