Professional Reading #4

In chapter 5 Goodstein discusses parental controls. “Parenting is about setting limits, building trust, and helping teens become responsible adults. Lying is what many teens do to test their limits” (pg. 97). Teenagers have always pushed the limits. Now there are many more ways to push the limits and more difficult for parents to keep track. Parents can use cell phones to check on their children, but it does not necessarily give them answers to where their children are.

“David Walsh, the president of the National Institute on Media and the Family, began a program dedicated to helping families reduce screen time and increase physical activity. ‘As the gadgets keep evolving, they keep consuming more and more of our kids’ time. Our kids need a balanced diet of activity, and the problem is that it’s getting out of balance. I don’t think as a society we’re dealing with it yet’” (pg. 119). This chapter is all about balance: how much parental control does each child need versus how much screen time does each child need and/or desire.

Another difficulty surrounding parental control is that many of the tweens and teens know and understand technology much better than their parents do. It is hard to create limits when a parent doesn’t even know or understand what they are limiting. Parents can still stay involved and reap the many benefits of all the new and changing technology.

Goodstein, Anastasia. (2007). Totally wired: What teens and tweens are really doing online. St. Martin’s Press. New York City: NY. Chapter 5.