Sunshine and Hurricanes

Smart Parenting with Purpose

  • Mom Life
  • Young Kids
  • Tweens & Teens
  • Technology
    • Apps for Kids – The Ultimate Guide
    • Safety
  • Family Resources
    • Recipes
      • Meal Plans
      • Snacks
      • Dessert
      • Holiday Recipes
    • Travel
      • Florida
      • Disney
    • Savings
      • Monthly Best Buys
    • Holidays
  • Gift Guides
  • About S & H
    • Contact Sunshine and Hurricanes
    • Disclosure Policy
  • Shop

Technology 101 for Parents

By Kira Lewis 13 Comments

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest

Listen, we get it. Technology poses some challenges in our society, especially to parents. Here's a Technology 101 for Parents - It Can Be Your Thing and We Will Help You! 

Technology 101 for Parents – It Can Be Your “Thing” 

Listen, I get it. Technology poses some challenges in our society, especially to parents.
Here’s What We DON’T Want:

  • We don’t want our kids zoned out in front of the TV all day.
  • We don’t want them always choosing to play video games indoors when they can go outside and play.
  • We don’t want them failing to develop social skills like behaving in a restaurant, because we were always handing over a device  for their entertainment.
  • We don’t want our family relationships breaking down, because everyone is too busy with their devices to talk to each other.

I also understand that for many parents technology feels foreign and scary and dangerous. Unlike our children, we were not born with it as an everyday part of our lives.  So, it isn’t always intuitive to us and it can take time (precious time we often feel we don’t have) to learn about and keep up with technology.  I don’t know if it is this fear or this sense of overwhelm or a combination of both, but when the topic of technology and kids comes up, I constantly hear other parents saying  “Tech is just not my THING”.

I’m Sorry, but if you’re raising kids today,
you don’t have a choice,
TECH NEEDS TO BECOME YOUR “THING”! 

My husband and I are both “techies” you could say, just in different forms. As a blogger,  I spend quite a bit of time online and especially with social media. As a writer, for this blog as well as various parenting magazines, I am constantly researching areas that are relevant to parents and technology is a big one.  My husband, on the other hand, works directly in the technology industry as a consultant for a large software company. Between the two of us, we cover a large portion of the technology spectrum. While we believe there absolutely needs to be limits and caution when it to comes to technology, we also see the ways technology can benefit children and families.

Screen Time Sanity

I think it is unfortunate that an overwhelming number of  magazine articles, news clips, blog posts and Facebook status updates focus so greatly on the negatives of technology and only reinforce a parent’s fears and guilt. This endless stream of negative feedback keeps parents from exploring all the positive ways technology can be used both for fun and education when it comes to their children. Even more concerning though, is the way it distracts parents from acknowledging that technology is an unavoidable part of their children’s lives and that isn’t going to change. Failing to recognize this fact and using excuses like “tech is just not my thing” to avoid dealing with it, leaves you as a parent completely unequipped to guide your children and to keep them safe.

{adinserter Tech responsive blog ads}

As Parents Today, Here is What We DO Want:

1. We want to be involved in our children’s education and able to help them.
– Can we  do that if we don’t have some familiarity with one of the primary tools that they will using?

2. We want to do everything we can  to keep our children safe.
– Are we really doing everything though, if we don’t  fully understand the true risks technology and social media pose to our children and how to guide them?

3. We want to raise children who are are responsible, respectful and compassionate.
– Do we risk those character traits if we aren’t able to explain and model the proper use and etiquette of  technological devices and social media?

4. We want to encourage our children to pursue their dreams and become successful adults.
– Are we putting them at a disadvantage if we are unable to help them identify and use all the resources technology provides to help them pursue their passions and interests?

5. We want to strengthen our families and have fun with our children.
– Could we be losing an opportunity to bond with our children and to actually build our relationships if we refuse to learn and engage with them on a platform that is both fun and a BIG part of their life experience?

My questions aren’t meant to be critical, but they are meant to be thought provoking and to challenge some of our pre-conceived notions or generational biases.  Let’s not forget there was a generation of parents who thought rock and roll was evil – how’d that work out for them?

{adinserter MediaNet 600×120 1}

Getting up to speed with today’s technology so you can be a more effective parent doesn’t have to be painful.  In fact, my husband and I are going to do a lot of the legwork for you. We have identified some basics that will enable you to navigate today’s technology with increased confidence, alleviate some of your worries, and empower you to be better guides for your children. Who knows, you might even have some fun in the process.   Here are some of the topics we will be covering in our on-going tech 101 series for parents here at Sunshine and Hurricanes:

  •  Keeping kids safe online – what are the basics you need to know and what are some of the best tools out there to help you keep your children safe when using your computer or other technology at home.
  • Mobile Phones – What settings should you enable if your children are using your mobile phone even just for play and to guard their privacy and your family’s privacy.
  • How to Talk to Your Kids About Technology and Setting Household Technology Rules and Limits.
  • Social Media for Adults – An intro to all the different types of social media, what you should know about privacy, and how to be a good role model for your children.
  • Social Media for Kids – What is the right age, which types should you allow, how can you monitor it and how can you teach kids to make good choices when they are using it.
  • Minecraft  and other popular gaming apps – What you need to know and how some might actually benefit your kids.
  • General Apps – Best Ones for Kids by Age  and Best Ones for Adults( Ones That Actually Can Make Your Life Easier)
  • Online Resources – The top sites for all your family’s needs
  • Television –  General recommendations and suggestions for worthwhile programs by age

If you don’t want to miss any parts of the series, feel free to sign-up for our weekly newsletter at the bottom of this post. Also, if you have any questions or ideas for other tech posts that you think would help you out, leave a comment below or email us at sunandhurricanes@gmail.com and we will be happy to do what we can!

Screen time Sanity

Here are Posts That Have Been Published in the Series So Far

MINECRAFT for Moms

Apps You Don’t Want On Your Kids Phone (AKA Worst Apps for Kids)

Taking Control of Technology Before It Takes Over Your Family

Best Apps for AR Reading and Reading Counts

 

Join Our Mailing List

We send out our blog posts by email--join today and receive a free SMART Parenting Printable as a Thank You gift! Your email is never sold or shared.

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: Keeping Kids Safe Online, Kids and Technology, parenting, Tech 101 for Parents, Technology

About Kira Lewis

Kira Lewis is a mom to a strong and sassy 8 year old girl and a funny, soccer playing teen boy.  Her career has included everything from corporate ladder climbing to teaching yoga. She's settled for now on free-lance writing and blogging where she covers topics like motherhood, parenting, technology, Florida travel and raising tweens and teens.Keep up with her parental musings by subscribing to sunshine and hurricane's weekly newsletter HERE.

You can also find her on social media:

Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Pinterest 

« Kids Who Serve Others- Spreading Cheer
How to Budget for Holiday Spending »

Comments

  1. Barb @ A Life in Balance says

    January 12, 2015 at 9:09 am

    I’m so glad you’re talking about this. I saw an article last week about giving a kid technology for Christmas. I think it was in the Huffington Post. While I understand the parent’s concerns in the article, I was frustrated with her withdrawal from the technology and her lack of willingness to teach her child how to use technology responsibly.

    Reply
  2. Leena says

    September 6, 2014 at 12:17 am

    Kira, I didn’t know anything aside from the name of this game before reading your article but now I might just go and buy the full version. Thanks for enlightening me!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Is Your Child Ready For A Cell Phone? - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    February 9, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    […] is going to be ready for her very own phone? It’s inevitable. As we’ve talked about before, smart parents can no longer afford to keep their heads in the sand when it comes to technology and […]

    Reply
  2. Jeff Piontek: Author + Speaker + Teacher » Taking Control of Technology Before Technology Takes Over Your Family says:
    June 11, 2015 at 6:15 pm

    […] that we’ve posted our first few articles in our Technology 101 for Parents Series, I’ve been noticing many of the comments from parents frustrated by the constant struggle […]

    Reply
  3. 5 Apps that Make Parenting Easier - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    May 20, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    […] for other great tech parenting tools? We’ve got a whole  Tech Parenting 101 series that can make parenting easier. The most popular […]

    Reply
  4. How to Talk About Technology with Younger Children - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    March 12, 2015 at 10:54 am

    […] Tech 101 for Parents  […]

    Reply
  5. Please, STOP Saying Technology is Ruining Childhood - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    January 23, 2015 at 10:55 am

    […] Want to make peace with technology? Check out our whole series –  TECHNOLOGY 101 FOR PARENTS. […]

    Reply
  6. Lunch Box Hacks - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    October 23, 2014 at 10:05 am

    […] parents be sure to check out our Technology 101 for Parents Series with the wildly popular The Worst Apps for […]

    Reply
  7. YouTube for Parents: Safety, Fun & Learning - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    October 23, 2014 at 7:24 am

    […] of the Technology 101 for Parents […]

    Reply
  8. Best Apps For AR or Reading Counts - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    October 9, 2014 at 9:56 pm

    […] (part of the Technology 101 for Parents Series) […]

    Reply
  9. Taking Control of Technology Before Technology Takes Over Your Family - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    October 9, 2014 at 9:39 am

    […] that we’ve posted our first few articles in our Technology 101 for Parents Series, I’ve been noticing many of the comments from parents frustrated by the constant struggle […]

    Reply
  10. Minecraft for Moms - What You Need to Know - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    September 25, 2014 at 9:10 am

    […] (Part of the Technology 101 for Parents Series) […]

    Reply
  11. The Worst Apps for Kids - Sunshine and Hurricanes says:
    September 25, 2014 at 3:20 am

    […] Technology 101 for Parents […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Hi There! We’re Michelle and Kira, two Florida moms who know that parenting is full of sunshine and hurricanes. So glad you are here. >>>LEARN MORE

POPULAR POSTS

  • Stocking Stuffers for Teen Boys - Ideas From Teens
    Stocking Stuffers for Teen Boys - Ideas From Teens
  • Gifts For Teen Boys They Actually Want  - They Told Us So!
    Gifts For Teen Boys They Actually Want - They Told Us So!
  • Great Gift Ideas For Tween Boys - Tween Boy Approved
    Great Gift Ideas For Tween Boys - Tween Boy Approved
  • Best Board Games For Teens - Ideas for Teens from Teens
    Best Board Games For Teens - Ideas for Teens from Teens
  • 10 Alternatives to Birthday Party Goody Bags That Aren't Junk
    10 Alternatives to Birthday Party Goody Bags That Aren't Junk

Pinterest

Follow Sunshine and Hurricanes Best of S&H on Pinterest.

INSTAGRAM

Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2019 · PRIVACY POLICY · Website by Moritz Fine Designs LLC

  • 160
  • 439
Join our mailing list today and we'll send a free thank you gift!
×
×
Join our Mailing List Today!

Love our tech for parents series, mom advice, recipes and fun ideas? Join our list today and receive a weekly digest of our blog posts, delivered directly to your inbox. Plus, we'll also send you a free SMART Parenting Printable as a Thank You!

 (Your email is never sold or shared.)