Dear Parents,
My favorite part of Oprah Winfrey’s magazine, O, is the last page. Entitled, “What I Know for Sure,” it is a brief, half page commentary written by Winfrey on those themes and ideas that have defined her work as a talk show host over the last decade or so.
I was reminded of Winfrey’s monthly observations on Tuesday night as I drove home from Stephanie Newberg’s lecture. Stephanie presented to a room full of Lower School parents and guests on how children’s overall development, especially between third and fifth grade, feeds into the opportunities for strong peer relationships, growing independence from parents, and “being part of the group” that technology use provides. Her informative talk generated lots of discussion among those in the room, with everyone leaving a little wiser and empowered, I hope, to engage their daughters in conversation about topics such as Facebook, cyberbullying, and peer pressure.
So, what do I know for sure after listening to Stephanie speak?
1. Technology is a blessing in our lives that has the potential to turn into a curse for our children if we do not educate ourselves as parents and engage our daughters in a dialogue about the pros and cons of its use, and the dangers that exist when it is used thoughtlessly.
2. That part of the brain which controls logic and decision making in our children does not typically begin to mature until our daughters are much older, and isn’t fully developed until they are in their twenties. We have a responsibility as their parents to make wise decisions for them until they are in a position to do so for themselves. With regards to technology that means closely monitoring and supervising their every move—and even saying “No” once in a while.
3. For any Lower Schooler to have a Facebook account is inappropriate and illegal. The officially permitted age for having a Facebook page is 13. If a child who is not yet 13 has an account, even with parental knowledge and supervision, that means someone has broken a law.
4. Each household has its own set of mores and values. Making sure your daughter understands what matters to and is okay with you in your household goes a long way to supporting her decision-making processes when she is away from you in a situation that does not mirror her home situation.
I hope you will join us for the second of a three part lecture series on technology and children when Risa Vietri Ferman, District Attorney of Montgomery County, as well as Assistant DA (and AIS parent) Kevin Steele and their colleagues will be with us to continue the conversation on April 11 at 7:00 P.M.
Have a great weekend,
Donna