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Our kids are young right now, but we want to keep these rules in place for the long haul We put these rules into place now so our kids will not know any difference when they are a few years older. Our rules will be their norm.
TECH RULES:
1- Keep the laptop in a “public” place in your house.
We have a computer in the living room and a laptop that stays in the office or kitchen (open area).
The kids do their school work online or play on websites in the kitchen. I can see when the kids are on it and I can monitor exactly what they are looking at.
I have made a rule that no one is allowed to have electronics in their bedrooms. I trust our kids (they are very young, but we trust them) but I do not trust the Ads on their games. I do not trust that their friends will not be sending them things that are “funny” to them, but inappropriate. I do not trust that the will not see something that they shouldn’t see.
2- Electronics are charged in OUR (parent) bedroom.
I do not want our kids to ever charge their phones or laptops in their rooms. We have started this from the get-go, so they didn’t have to ever question it. For that reason, phones, laptops, and other electronics go into our room at bedtime and stay there all night.
3- Be online together.
I read a study once that talked about how educational movies really are educational for kids, but only when you watch them together. You can stream movies, find fun apps, or find great shows online and watch them together. We love to all snuggle in our bed and watch a movie.
