You don't get a person to act a certain way over any appreciable amount of time by demanding they should. They have to understand and appreciate the reasoning.
ugh. did look for it but didnt see it...anyways. I linked to the actual blog, not a post about the blog..which i guess is better for the actual blogger, no?
These rules are ridiculous. If you don't trust your child enough to use the phone responsibly, then you shouldn't give them the phone in the first place (or in this case, lend them the phone). These rules allow the child to use the phone for roughly four hours per day; basically only when at home. What's the point of even having one?
Exactly, this is hardly a gift - it's a leash. If I was this kid I'd prefer to keep my crappy phone or just use some combination of google voice/laptop and throw the iphone in the trash. Probably a symptom of just generally really controlling parents.
If course the child isnt able to use an iphone responsibly but thats not what this is about. It's an attempt to teach their child. The child is 13 and the parent is using this as another tool to continue to teach the child manners and responsibility.
Children need guidance and help while growing up. Some of these rules are ridiculous, but I like that the parent is continuing to guide the child through life changes. There's no question that having the Internet in the palm of your hand is a major life change.
Does it really count as a gift if it is that locked down? I wouldn't accept it just so I could keep all those rules out of my head. Work an hour on the weekend landscaping and buy a prepaid Android phone. At least then you would have the option of not answering the phone when Mom calls. Maybe the poor kid wouldn't feel like always talking instantly whenever she wanted.
"""You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You & I, we are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together."""
Cool mom.
She is trying to be a responsible parent by guiding her son in the right direction. It is commendable that she is talking straight about issues. You might not agree with her style (in such case, I believe you are not a parent, yet ;) ) but the alternative of letting the kid learn it by experience is downright scary. The way I see it, she is just laying down the ground rules under the belief and trust that the kid will follow. She is not policing him.
The ground rules are a bit oppressive. Kids need autonomy in their lives just like adults. Some of the rules are fine, but some are overreaching.
2. I will always know the password.
Really? So no privacy.
4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00pm.
7:30? If the kid has a computer this is basically pointless anyway, if the kid doesn't have a computer he's missing out on a lot.
5. It does not go to school with you.
Convenient to have a phone in school to call to organize rides with parents/be contactable in emergency/ look up necessary information etc.
9. Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room.
Kids are not the same people with their parents and peers or parents and boy/girl friends.
10. No porn. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person – preferably me or your father.
Not even going to bother with this one.
14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision.
This is one of those afraid of technology rules, a phone is a convenience not an addiction and is something there's no reason to not always have with you.
14 comments
[ 3.1 ms ] story [ 43.3 ms ] threadLooks like a set of rules in a corporate office on how to use the... microwave.
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=4990950
Children need guidance and help while growing up. Some of these rules are ridiculous, but I like that the parent is continuing to guide the child through life changes. There's no question that having the Internet in the palm of your hand is a major life change.
This is a 13 year old child, not an adult.
Cool mom.
She is trying to be a responsible parent by guiding her son in the right direction. It is commendable that she is talking straight about issues. You might not agree with her style (in such case, I believe you are not a parent, yet ;) ) but the alternative of letting the kid learn it by experience is downright scary. The way I see it, she is just laying down the ground rules under the belief and trust that the kid will follow. She is not policing him.
2. I will always know the password.
Really? So no privacy.
4. Hand the phone to one of your parents promptly at 7:30pm every school night & every weekend night at 9:00pm.
7:30? If the kid has a computer this is basically pointless anyway, if the kid doesn't have a computer he's missing out on a lot.
5. It does not go to school with you.
Convenient to have a phone in school to call to organize rides with parents/be contactable in emergency/ look up necessary information etc.
9. Do not text, email, or say anything to someone that you would not say out loud with their parents in the room.
Kids are not the same people with their parents and peers or parents and boy/girl friends.
10. No porn. Search the web for information you would openly share with me. If you have a question about anything, ask a person – preferably me or your father.
Not even going to bother with this one.
14. Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision.
This is one of those afraid of technology rules, a phone is a convenience not an addiction and is something there's no reason to not always have with you.