Last year for Christmas Ella received a smartphone. She’s an awesome kid and it was an awesome gift. She’s been really great this last year about how she’s using it and what she uses it for but she is getting older. While she’s still an awesome kid, as kids get older they get more curious and tend to explore and test the limits. She also has more friends with smartphones and devices and with that comes other kids who encourage her to explore and test the limits. She hasn’t done anything wrong with her smartphone and while I’m really confident that she wouldn’t, we’re going to set some additional ground rules and talk about privacy, and online safety just to be safe. Having this talk can be really awkward but Smart Talk has a new way to make that not so awesome conversation about online rules, privacy, and safety much easier so we’re having the smart talk about smart technology use as part of a sponsored campaign. Opinions are my own.
Having the Smart Talk about Smart Technology Use
LifeLock and the National PTA’s Smart Talk campaign gives parents and kids the opportunity to get together to have an easy, and clear, conversation about all the devices the family uses and how to be safe and responsible while online with them. In most households these days it seems smart devices – phones, tablets, computers and such – are a huge part of everyday life. Parents and kids not only talk about being safe and responsible online, they create a contract together that governs smart technology use.
We decided it was time to have The Smart Talk with Ella. She’s almost 12 now and while we were at it we had the talk with Emmet too since he is 10 now and using a tablet and other devices on a more regular basis.
The Smart Talk covers a lot of ground and it gave us the opportunity to talk about topics that we otherwise might have missed or might not have known quite how to talk about. We talked about safety and privacy – what is okay to share and avoiding over-sharing. We talked about being respectful online and that means never saying something you wouldn’t say to your teacher or grandma. We also talked about social media, apps & downloads, and texting & calling. We decided on limits and times that these are okay, what’s appropriate and allowed. We also talked about videos & cameras and appropriate use. Maybe the most important thing we talked about was reputation and respect and that included the discussion about online bullying – something that is a little harder to know how to bring up I think.
After we created the contract it summarized it for us and gave us the opportunity to print and sign it, complete with everything we talked about and agreed upon. I enjoyed our conversation as we created the contract and I’m thankful that The Smart Talk made it so easy to have such an important talk with my kids.
We agree to honor the rules we created and we will review them and the contract twice a year (you can set the time to review more or less frequently if you like). Kids change and so do their interests, friends, and outside influences. Having the smart talk as they grow and change can keep us feeling comfortable talking about things that otherwise might be difficult.
Have you talked with your kids about online safety & privacy and set rules? Do you have a “contract” with them for smart technology?
dawn says
how totally neat. the advancement in technology is something incredible.
Krystal says
I am going to set this up for my son when he is old enough for that talk! HE already is getting into apps he shouldn’t be!
Amy Desrosiers says
My kids are getting Kindles for Christmas. We will have this talk and put up safeguards soon!
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert says
You have to protect your kids from smart technology! There’s a lot of dangerous stuff out there!
Clo says
It’s so important to have internet safety. My 9 year old loves to browse the internet. That’s why we make sure we have protection so she doesn’t wander into something else.
Janis @MommyblogExpert says
Thanks for a great post about such an important modern parenting issue. As the mom of 4 kids, now all in college, I speak from experience of having been in the trenches. Kids today often tend to be reckless when it comes to using technology safely unless moms/dads teach them about safety at a very early age and then closely monitor kids’ activities until they are mature enough to make behavior decisions purely on their own.
Tammi Roy says
I will be having this talk with my kids soon. I love how you can set parental controls with this.
Ann Bacciaglia says
This is a great way to make kids aware of the online dangers that are out there. It can be so tricky to navigate the internet.
Elizabeth Lampman says
My kids are to young to use the internet yet. I know when it is time i will be having the smart talk with them.
Liz Mays says
It’s definitely a good idea to establish some rules. Being open with your communication is a great way to do that.
Shauna says
I tell you, the world scares me. I have a family member whose daughter was a victim of cyber stalking and she was only 9. It is so important to have a good talk with kids. Thanks for sharing.
Kelly says
We have talked with our kids about cyber safety. It is so important to make sure they so have boundaries wiht their technology.
Seattle Travel Blogger says
This is such a good idea! Makes it so much easier to ensure that you cover all of the topics and everyone agrees.
Jennifer says
My sister has one of these contracts with her kids. I think it’s important to manage online activity and time.
Stacie says
Having the Smart Talk is a great idea. I like that there is a contract between you, as the parent, and your child. I think that will help your child think about how they use their smart technology.
Jeanette says
We are strict with the internet, but in a few weeks my kiddo will be getting a tablet and THEN we will be REALLY restricting all that he does.
Jennifer says
We don’t have a contract and haven’t had a talk because my kids don’t go on the internet outside of school. I think this program is super great though
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
My kids aren’t allowed on the internet, but I know they will be soon enough.
Valerie says
I think it is so important to have this talk with kids and do it often. A contract is a great idea.
Jeanine says
We don’t have a contract but we have a strict understanding. Right now our computer and any electronic we have is strictly used for homework or games that are approved. It’s so important to have smart, safety online.