The Unexpected Moment That Made Me Realize I Needed a ‘Tech Talk’ with My Child
Written by Sarah Thompson
No one prepares you for these situations at baby showers.
On lazy Sunday afternoons after church, my family enjoys some downtime. Well, I want to unwind, so I encourage everyone to have a quiet afternoon. Typically, my oldest grabs his tablet to watch a movie or show. One particular Sunday, I was nearby when I overheard some strange sounds coming from his device; upon glancing over, I was shocked to see he was on YouTube watching a cartoon that was far from age-appropriate. Initially, I was drawn in by a woman who sounded like she was in labor! Then, I realized it was an animated depiction of a pregnant woman and her partner preparing to go to the hospital. I had just pulled up a video of a child playing with bugs, so I had no idea how he ended up on this adult-themed cartoon. While I find childbirth to be a beautiful experience, my son is only 5 years old and not ready for that kind of content!
Despite having all the parental controls in place, this cartoon slipped through the cracks. After checking his tablet history and settings, I knew I needed to completely reset his browsing history and favorites. Beyond the video about the pregnant woman, he had also dabbled in some gamer and prank videos. It dawned on me that the algorithm was suggesting these inappropriate videos, and it would be easier for him to start fresh with content I approve of than to untangle the mess. For my peace of mind, I decided to recalibrate the algorithm regarding what he should be watching.
This incident made it clear that we needed to have a “tech talk” much sooner than I anticipated. When I first learned I was expecting, all the lessons I would eventually need to teach my children felt abstract, categorized into broad themes like relationships, identity, family, and education. Now, I was faced with the nitty-gritty reality of what I truly needed to communicate, and it was more challenging than I had imagined. While I’m not yet discussing the birds and the bees, we’re having foundational conversations about individuality, identity, and now, the importance of safe and age-appropriate internet use. No one warns you about these things!
After some quick research on how to approach this topic, I devised a plan for our discussion. Several key risks come with kids being online: the content they consume, contracts they might agree to, and the individuals they communicate with. The primary goal of our talk was to build trust while ensuring his safety.
I began by asking my son about his favorite shows and characters. We discussed popular figures like the Wild Kratts, Spidey and his superhero friends, and Combo Panda from Ryan’s World. He was thrilled to share all that he had learned, and this helped me understand his enthusiasm for the internet. It also reassured him that he could freely discuss what he sees and does with me.
Next, I made sure to outline the dangers of the internet. While he knew he shouldn’t interact with the characters he watched, he didn’t grasp that much of what he viewed was not “real.” We discussed the concept of acting and how it differs from reality.
Finally, we set some family ground rules. He understands that he cannot watch content targeted solely at adults and that he should never share personal information with anyone via his tablet. As he matures and expresses a desire to post or share, we’ll have ongoing conversations about digital footprints and the importance of not sharing anything harmful to others.
This conversation is bound to evolve as he grows, and I will eventually need to have the same talk with my younger son. I view this dialogue as practice for future, more complex discussions, aiming to maintain an open and honest relationship with my kids.
For more insights into parenting and technology, check out this related blog post.
Additionally, if you’re interested in understanding more about pregnancy and family planning, this resource on In Vitro Fertilisation is quite helpful. Also, for those navigating the emotional aspects of pregnancy loss, this site provides valuable information.
Search Queries:
- How to talk to kids about internet safety
- Best practices for kids’ online content
- Setting up parental controls on devices
- Understanding internet algorithms for children
- Creating a digital media plan for kids
Summary:
Navigating the digital landscape with children can be challenging, especially when unexpected content slips through parental controls. A proactive “tech talk” can help establish trust and educate kids about safe internet use. By discussing their interests and setting clear ground rules, parents can guide their children toward age-appropriate content while promoting open communication.