Teens, Texting, and Boundaries

I know a lot of parents who struggle to get a handle on their kids’ use of electronic gadgets. TV, PCs, games, and phones – they are a part of life, yet difficult even for adults to manage sometimes. While visiting friends the other day, I was struck by their boundaries and thought I’d pass on this little gem.

They all charge their phones downstairs and no cellular devices are allowed upstairs. So, when the kids (and adults) go to bed, they don’t take their gadgets with them. This way, all texting stops at night and everyone gets a good night’s sleep. In addition, this prevents other unsafe behaviors from occurring also.

Another friend of mine uses a good router-based Internet filter. They stop all Internet traffic after 10pm. If there is a need, a parent can unlock the filter – but this is only for emergencies, urgencies, or very special occasions.

I’m curious, how does your family manage these tools? In and of themselves, they are not evil – but they are often misused. What special precautions have you put in place – either for yourselves, or your kids?