This is good to know, most of which I was already awake, but as the kids gets older, they're going to want more internet access. We let them play games, Frank has some options switched so that they can only access a select few sites and nothing else.
Next year, my step daughter is starting High, School. While at home she won't be online much, only for papers if needed, at school, she could be online more often. I started chatting at school.
Back then, there were Internet cafés, now there is Internet at home, and parents who are aware and who want to supervise. Frank does not want any of the kids using Internet in their own room, until they are 16. They will use the computer in the living room, the screen is the TV screen, it's big. So it will be for research and we will see if they go anywhere else. It might seem strict, but outside of small chats in school, the first time I went to an Internet café with a friend was at 15.
The kids are already awake or some behavious of predators, because of what I've lived, so they know some of the signs of someone with malicious intent.
It's tricky, but I believe we have enough knowledge to help protect them and we may impose certain restrictions, but we still allow a lot of liberty and we let them know why we decide certain things when it's relevant. We will also need to trust their judgement and that they will tell us if they meet someone online who seems fishy or just let us know so we can ensure the person is legit.
Sounds like you have everything thought out and planned, good job!
I don't believe children need personal cell phones until late middle school/high school. I see little kids who can barely talk on iphones- it's so unnecessary imho
Same here. We spoke to the kids' mom when she mentioned that Frank's daughter had asked her for an i-phone. The High School already requires them to have i-pads for research in certain classes, so that's already something extra. We all agreed that she can have a cell phone when she has a job and can pay for it herself. This might seem to her, maybe later on, as unfair, but when she actually does get it herself with her own money and is able to manage her first expenses, she will have such a sense of accomplishment and responsibility, she will be grateful that we never handed it to her. That kind of feeling is important in a person's development and self-esteem.
I absolutely agree 100%!