This is a weekly email that deposits some good tidbits of info for parents trying to keep up with language and trends impacting our homes. The stories also share reminders of the potential danger of the internet and hope for redemption after inevitable mistakes occur. The blog offers regular articles that are informative for parents and leaders in setting limits and boundaries. Covenant Eyes is a great filtering and accountability tool. This book helped us devise our own Technology guidelines for our home. Book: The Tech Wise Family by Andy Crouch.Here are some good sources of info for parents that have been helpful to us along our journey of discovery: But parents, lets beware and be aware! And set limits and boundaries on technology use for your kids and for yourself. There is good that can come from technology too.
I could probably go on, but we are learning more and more of the potential harmful effects of technology and how to shepherd our kids through these mind fields. Most parents are clueless of how their kids are being affected by technology.Sexting is a huge problem for teens and many adults!!! Model and teach the importance of accountability with text messaging.Yes! Local drug dealers are on Snap Chat and Instagram advertising their services to your kids. Drug dealers are using Snap Chat and Instagram to entice your kids.Model and teach the importance of rest from technology. Turn off the internet! Place devices in a secure place. They struggle to turn it off and stay disconnected. Kids get up at night and reconnect with technology after their parents have gone to bed.Kids and most adults are not capable of handling the emotional toll that constant connectivity offers us through smart phones and social media.Figure out how to block access to it on gaming devices and smart phones. Youtube is a great disciple making tool and mostly for bad.The unfiltered internet, Youtube, and many games offer views of the darkest parts of the fallen world to kids. Gaming devices are not just about playing games anymore.These people are discipling your children and shaping their worldview. Watch who your kids are following on Instagram.Instagram has grown more like Snap Chat, allowing anonymous sharing of pics.From a local school principal: “Everything bad at this school – drugs, bullying, and sexting – can be traced back to Snap Chat or Instagram.”.No child should have access to Snap Chat. You can protect kids from internet searches and some harmful websites with filters, but filters have little affect on Social Media sites.Some of the unexpected lessons we’ve learned over the last few years as parents and as a pastor: Parents must be vigilant to remain on top of this ever changing world. We are learning more and more about the land minds that smart phones, social media, and gaming devices deposit before our kids every day. One of my generations parenting challenges is definitely technology. And each new generation has its challenges. Nobody can tell you how hard it is until you’ve experienced it.