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Entertainment Topics
Hidden Dangers of This Year's Hottest High-Tech Toys
What You Can Do
The first consideration as a parent is determining the risk these new devices pose to your child. Given that pornography is especially damaging to the minds of children, many parents will decide to stay away from these devices altogether. For those who do proceed, there are several safety steps to consider:
Don't be afraid to have the store help you.
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- Learn about the capabilities of any new technology you buy. Take an extra five or ten minutes with the sales clerk asking questions about the functionality of the device and asking him to demonstrate how it all works—including any blocking or parental controls. Also, ask if there are any ways to get around these controls.
- Make sure the proper controls are enacted before you leave the store. You may be able to block Internet access on that new cell phone before your child even sees it. Or, you may be able to purchase filtering software for the PlayStation upfront. Don't be afraid to have the store help you. They are the experts and you don't want to leave before making sure your device is as safe as it can be.
- Create a teachable moment by preparing and discussing a family "user agreement" for your child to sign. One way to help develop your child's sense of responsibility is to make them accountable for their decisions. In the same way you sign a contract to receive cell phone service, your child should sign an agreement that spells out your expectations for the way the device is to be used, how it is not to be used and the penalties for violating the terms of the agreement. Further, take the opportunity to deepen the relationship and dialogue you have with your child and help instill the internal compass that will guide their media decisions.
This may seem a bit burdensome in the beginning, but the more vigilant and involved you are when your child is first exposed to these new technologies, the greater the chance of protecting them from material that can harm them for the rest of their lives.
— by Daniel L. Weiss
Daniel L. Weiss is senior analyst for Media and Sexuality at Focus on the Family.
Do you have thoughts, questions, advice on this topic? Post your stories and comments in the forum for other parents to respond to. Enter the forum now.
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