January 29, 2011

This week’s tip on teaching kids to wait was sent via email by Charles Fay, Ph.D. a child psychologist and one of the founders of the Love and Logic® institute, on January 12, 2011.

Do you ever feel like your child's cell phone, MP3 player, game console or computer has taken over your home? While these devices can be wonderful tools for communication, learning, and healthy enjoyment, they can also become dark and destructive without the necessary parental supervision and limits. Listed below are a few examples of the enforceable limits we, as parents, can provide:

• You may have your computer in the living room, not in your room.
• You may be on the internet as long as I'm allowed to review your internet history.
• Feel free to have a cell phone as long as you can pay for the service.
• You may keep your cell phone as long as you are not using it during meals, at church, while driving, etc.
• I've encouraged your teachers to keep any cell phones they find you using during class.
• I allow kids to use technology in my home as long as I feel that they are being respectful and responsible.
• I immediately donate to charity any devices used to view or send pornography.
• I report any illegal electronic activities to the police, even when the person involved is my child.

While we can't control what our kids do when they are away from home, we can set good, solid limits when they're under our roofs. If they complain, "You don't trust me!" reply, "I don't even trust myself. Lots of really good people get in trouble with technology. That's why I always make sure that your dad knows what I'm doing on my computer, too."

For more technology tips and techniques listen to our brand new MP3 download, Love and Logic Speedy Solutions: Taming the Technology Monster in Your Home. It's only $4.95, no waiting and no shipping fees!

Thanks for reading! Our goal is to help as many families as possible. If this is a benefit, forward it to a friend.

Dr. Charles Fay