Parenting... in the digital age

[Barkworm]

I split this from the age restriction thread for social media in the Current Events section.

None of my kids (4, 6 and 8 years old) owns a tablet PC, a video game system or a phone and I plan to keep it that way for the next couple of years (I might give them my old Gameboy, maybe). I hope social media won't be a thing for them AT LEAST until they are 14.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

None of my kids (4, 6 and 8 years old) owns a tablet PC, a video game system or a phone and I plan to keep it that way for the next couple of years (I might give them my old Gameboy, maybe). I hope social media won't be a thing for them AT LEAST until they are 14.

Goodness gracious. Smart man.

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

None of my kids (4, 6 and 8 years old) owns a tablet PC, a video game system or a phone and I plan to keep it that way for the next couple of years (I might give them my old Gameboy, maybe). I hope social media won't be a thing for them AT LEAST until they are 14.

So what do they do all day. Are they still allowed to play outside and whatnot?

[Barkworm]

Is the implication that they are being raised super restrictively? Because that's not the case at all. They play in the garden all day, play board and card games, read books, do sports, draw, meet friends etc. etc. There's plenty of stuff for kids to do. The internet just keeps them away from anything that is actually beneficial for their development.

But they do have a small shelf with a bunch of kids' shows and films on DVD or Bluray which we let them watch every other day. Usually when we're both just too exhausted.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Goodness gracious. Smart man.

I remember you once said that your daughter got her first cellphone relatively late (at 13?). Do you think it was the right age for her?

[Coola Yagami]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

Is the implication that they are being raised super restrictively? Because that's not the case at all. They play in the garden all day, play board and card games, read books, do sports, draw, meet friends etc. etc. There's plenty of stuff for kids to do. The internet just keeps them away from anything that is actually beneficial for their development.

But they do have a small shelf with a bunch of kids' shows and films on DVD or Bluray which we let them watch every other day. Usually when we're both just too exhausted.


I remember you once said that your daughter got her first cellphone relatively late (at 13?). Do you think it was the right age for her?

I wonder how kids around them act nowadays. Like back as a kid in the 80s, kids used to point out that I didn't have the latest designer sneakers on. Cause middle class can barely put dinner on the table but lord help them if their kids don't go to school with the latest Reebocks or whatever.

So I wonder if kids make fun of the one or two kids in class without a mobile phone.

[Barkworm]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

I wonder how kids around them act nowadays. Like back as a kid in the 80s, kids used to point out that I didn't have the latest designer sneakers on. Cause middle class can barely put dinner on the table but lord help them if their kids don't go to school with the latest Reebocks or whatever.

So I wonder if kids make fun of the one or two kids in class without a mobile phone.

They are still little so it's not much of a topic. Some of my son's classmates in grade 1 own some sort of smart watch (the ones with which you can track your kid or give them a call or vice versa) but he hasn't ever mentioned anything about them bragging about it.

My oldest has a few friends who own tablets or a Switch but she has never asked whether she can have one as well. She plays a bit at their places once in a while but it doesn't seem to interest her that much.

Maybe it's because they are country kids but so far it's been easy to go this route.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

I remember you once said that your daughter got her first cellphone relatively late (at 13?). Do you think it was the right age for her?

Not at all. Though even when I'd punish her and took it away her mom just went and bought her a new one. But things like unfettered access to YouTube did way more damage than that phone ever did.

[Barkworm]

I've read articles where people suggest there should be something like special phones for kids that have only limited access to the internet and specific apps. I could probably get behind that and even then, I wouldn't get one for my kids until they are at least 12.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Barkworm

I've read articles where people suggest there should be something like special phones for kids that have only limited access to the internet and specific apps. I could probably get behind that and even then, I wouldn't get one for my kids until they are at least 12.

Yeah, my 1 year old will get some kind of "dumb" phone that will only call me and mom and 911 and that's it when she's around 12. No apps and no internet -- zero. She can have a TV in her room at a certain age but she'll only have access to movies on disc. But they will be 4K discs, at least... I'm not a monster.

[Wildcat]

I can understand internet restrictions but not even a game console? Or like Kids Streaming Content? That’s a little extreme. I know modern consoles can access the internet but I’m sure it can be blocked.

I had a Sega Genesis and a small TV growing up starting around 8 or 9. I usually just watched Nick until I got a little older and got into other shows.

I don’t have kids but I would definitely allow them games and TV. I also played with physical toys, went outside and hung out with friends. It’s not like it was detrimental. I always did well in school too.

Matter of fact I was very good at keeping up with homework or whatever before playing. My parents didn’t even have to enforce it. I wanted to get it done so I didn’t have to worry about it.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Wildcat

I can understand internet restrictions but not even a game console?

Yeah, sure, at a certain age. But she won't be able to play it anytime she wants, as long as she wants or anything.

Or like Kids Streaming Content?

What, something like Disney+? Oh, HELLLLLLL no.

[CyberCubed]

I'm really surprised people don't let their kids play games? I was 3 years old when my parents got me an NES with Super Mario Bros and TMNT 1, and played the games with me. The NES was a big part of my childhood, I cannot imagine growing up as a kid without games at all.

Now I understand these days in realistic violent games you don't want kids playing GTA, Call of Duty or any other shooter, etc....but getting them a Switch with Mario and Zelda and other Nintendo games is fine.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

but getting them a Switch with Mario and Zelda and other Nintendo games is fine.

Regulated. Not catching them playing it under their blankets at 1 AM on a schoolnight.

[Wildcat]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Yeah, sure, at a certain age. But she won't be able to play it anytime she wants, as long as she wants or anything.

That was more so directed at Barkworm.

What, something like Disney+? Oh, HELLLLLLL no.

[ResidentEvil7]

I was born in 1982 and my parents allowed me and my older brother have a NES that came with Mario Bros/Duck Hunt in 1985 when I was 3 years old. I still have that same exact system from 1985, but it's to decorate my man cave. It was a family console. I took a major shine to it, because I guess autistic (which I didn't know at the time I had) kids like I was into something where we can play a game on our TV that involved using our hands and mind. There were times that when my mom disciplined me for acting out and she took my beautiful Nintendo away and I had a meltdown, because that Nintendo was MY little precious.

My point is, I had a Nintendo, Genesis and a SNES when I was a kid but we were told by our parents, including my friends that I spent the night over every month or so, that we had to play with our toys, play outside games like Crocodile Mile (as the commercial jingle goes: you run, you slide, you hit the bump and take a DIVE, Super Crocodile Mile), enjoy playing with our stuffed Care Bears toys (yes, I know... I was a little kid then). Heck, my mom and dad allowed me to watch R-rated movies like Conan The Barbarian/Destroyer, which has always been my favorite. I didn't grow up being a troublemaker but I did struggle with school and making friends; probably my mental disorder could be responsible for.

[Andrew NDB]

"It's a nice day -- go play outside" <--- we gotta bring this back.

[The Deadman]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

What, something like Disney+? Oh, HELLLLLLL no.

Parental controls, my guy

[The Deadman]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

"It's a nice day -- go play outside" <--- we gotta bring this back.

Some people are still in the COVID mindset and wont let their kids go outside.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by The Deadman

Some people are still in the COVID mindset and wont let their kids go outside.

See: morons. That are hurting their kids.

Originally Posted by The Deadman

Parental controls, my guy

Guaranteed there is tons of stuff that doesn't get blocked when filtered by parental controls that would still be insane for little kids to see.

[Barkworm]

Originally Posted by The Deadman

Some people are still in the COVID mindset and wont let their kids go outside.

My kids spent a lot of time of the lockdowns outside.

About video game systems: I even added a half-serious remark about letting them have some sort of gaming device when they are a little older and then it would absolutely be regulated. Letting Kindergarten kids play video games all day long is absolutely irresponsible.

My kids have enough hobbies. They don't need to spend more time in front of a screen.