The Moment I Realized I Needed to Have a ‘Tech Talk’ with My Child
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Written by Sarah Johnson
They don’t prepare you for these moments at baby showers.
On lazy Sunday afternoons after church, my family enjoys some downtime together. Well, I crave some peace, so I insist on a quiet afternoon. My eldest child usually grabs his tablet for a movie or show. One particular Sunday, while sitting nearby, I overheard some unsettling sounds coming from his device. When I peeked over, I was shocked to find him watching a cartoon on YouTube that was not suitable for his age. At first, I thought I was hearing a woman in labor! The cartoon depicted a pregnant woman and her partner preparing to head to the hospital. I had initially opened a video featuring a kid exploring bugs, so I was baffled as to how he found this adult-themed cartoon. While I believe childbirth is a beautiful event, my son is only 5 years old and definitely not ready for that level of content!
Even with all the child security measures activated, this video somehow slipped through the cracks. Upon examining his tablet history and settings, I realized that I needed to clear his entire browsing history and favorites. Alongside the pregnancy cartoon, he had also viewed some gamer videos and prank clips. The algorithm was clearly misguiding him, and I figured it would be easier to reset his viewing options rather than trace back through his digital missteps. For me, it made more sense to retrain the algorithm on what he is allowed to watch.
This incident made it clear that I needed to initiate a “tech talk” with him much sooner than I had anticipated. When I first learned I was going to be a parent, all the lessons I would eventually teach my children felt distant and vague—topics like sexuality, identity, family, love, and education. Now, I find myself tackling the specifics of what I need to share with him, and it’s a far more daunting task than I had imagined. While I’m not yet discussing the birds and the bees, we have started having brief conversations about individuality, what it means to be a Black American, and now, we need to cover safe and appropriate Internet usage. They really don’t give you a heads-up about this at baby showers!
After conducting some quick research on how to navigate the Internet safely, I developed a plan for our conversation. There are significant risks for kids online: the content they consume, the contracts they might agree to, and who they communicate with. The most vital aspect of this discussion was maintaining trust with my son while ensuring he is protected as best as possible.
I began our chat by asking him about his favorite shows and why he enjoys them. We talked about some of his beloved characters—like the Wild Kratts, Spidey and his superhero friends, and Combo Panda from Ryan’s World—and he was excited to share all that he had seen and learned from these programs. Engaging with his enthusiasm for the Internet will help me guide him toward safer viewing options while assuring him that he can openly discuss what he encounters online.
Next, I explained the dangers of the Internet. I realized that while my son understands he cannot interact with the characters he sees, he didn’t fully grasp that much of the content isn’t “real.” Although some characters are portrayed by real people, we needed to discuss the concept of acting.
Finally, we established some ground rules for our family. He understands that he shouldn’t watch shows that are intended for adults, and he is not allowed to share personal information with anyone through his tablet. As he grows older and may want to post or share more online, we’ll have conversations about how everything shared on the Internet is permanent and that he should avoid posting anything that could harm others.
This dialogue will evolve as he matures, and I will eventually need to have similar discussions with my younger son. I plan to use this experience as a foundation for future, more complex conversations, aiming to foster an open and honest relationship with my children.
For more insights on navigating parenthood and technology, check out this related post.
Search Queries:
- How to talk to kids about internet safety
- Best practices for children’s online content
- Setting rules for kids’ screen time
- Understanding digital footprints
- Teaching children about online privacy
Summary:
Discussing technology with children is crucial, especially as they encounter content that may not be age-appropriate. A recent experience revealed the need for early “tech talks,” where parents can guide their kids on safe internet practices while maintaining trust. By discussing their interests, explaining online dangers, and setting family rules, parents can foster open communication and ensure their children navigate the digital world safely.
Keyphrase: Talking to kids about technology
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