The Problem: Sitting on my friend’s porch this past weekend, I was thrilled my kids (ages 3.5 and 5) were playing outside soaking it up with a group of new kids. Since mine were the youngest of the bunch, I kept a safe distance until I saw a commotion. When I walked over to see why all ten kids were clambering up the play set, I noticed the two fourth grade girls had taken … [Read more...] about ‘Digital Heroin’ and Kids: A Problem With Manageable Solutions
Smartphones and Kids: Worth the Wait
I grew up in the technology boom, fascinated by all the latest and greatest things from accessible cell phones to Friendster (totally dating myself) – and have loved every second of it. My personal and professional lives have been forever changed by the evolution of technology, and I’m thrilled that my kids will have access to these incredibly powerful devices and tools – … [Read more...] about Smartphones and Kids: Worth the Wait
Kids and Smartphones: What Age Is The Right Age?
“What age do you think it’s appropriate for my kids’ to have their own smartphone?” It’s a question I get almost daily from the thousands of parents I talk with throughout this country. I’ll be honest – I hate answering this question. First and foremost, I know that most kids are getting their VERY OWN SMARTPHONE around 4th grade these days (which means the majority of my … [Read more...] about Kids and Smartphones: What Age Is The Right Age?
Parenting in the Digital Age: Why Your Kids Still Need You
Parenting in the digital age can be an overwhelming task. How do we keep up? How much should we be involved? What’s appropriate and safe? What the heck is this new app? Why do they do that? When do we back off? Recently a parent asked me, "I have a child who will be going off to college soon – is now the time to back off and let the chips fall as they may when it comes to … [Read more...] about Parenting in the Digital Age: Why Your Kids Still Need You
Teen Sexting: Why Parents Shouldn’t Wave the White Flag
It seems like every week there’s a new teen sexting story making headlines. Last week, a sexting “ring” involving roughly 100 high school students in Canon City, CO, revealed that these kids were not only trading nude images of themselves, but were – GASP – hiding them behind vault apps, which password protect and hide images and videos behind seemingly innocuous apps. While … [Read more...] about Teen Sexting: Why Parents Shouldn’t Wave the White Flag