I think there are many ways to pull off a "safe" email address for your kids. I researched a bunch of options, but liked gmail's "plus-addressing" the best.
The idea is to set up a gmail account (or even use your own existing gmail address) and use gmail's plus-addressing to create a dedicated account for your kids. The advantage is that you still have all the control and can set up filters.
So, if your last name is Smith, you could set up a new gmail address named smithkids@gmail.com. Then, for each of your kids, you can add them to the this account, like:
smithkids+john@gmail.com
smithkids+jane@gmail.com
smithkids+tommy@gmail.com
Here are the two links that give the best context:
http://lifehacker.com/235423/give-your-kids-personalized-gmail-addresses
http://flagrantdisregard.com/how-to-give-your-young-children-a-personalized-managed-email-address/
In our case, all the kids have email that comes into a single inbox using email addresses much like my examples above. I have set up filters and can view their inbox whenever I want. My kids know this and I sometimes look at it with them.
Plus, since, the other kids look at the same inbox, there is another level of accountability.
Check it out. It is working great for us so far!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Why do our kids need phones with text capability?
I guess I can understand giving a kid a cell phone. There have been times at our house when I wish my 11 year old had a phone. Like when she goes snowboarding, walks the dog, or meets her friend on the corner. But I haven't figured out why texting would ever be a requirement for a kid.
Just the other day, we celebrated our 11 year old's birthday. All her friends were dropped off at our house by parents who, for some reason, felt that their children needed to bring along their cell phone. You should have seen it. Right when they walked in, each girl was making calls to other friends. We even had at least one inter-house phone call!
And the texting! They were texting each other at the dinner table and in the car as we drove to our destination. Somewhat awkward, to say the least, for those that did not have phones. And totally annoying.
Finally, my wife put an end to it and told them all that they were no longer allowed to use their phones. I mean, you go to someone's house for a birthday party and call other people?! You text someone standing right next to you?!
Help me understand.
Just last summer I was at the park with my kids. Some older kids - maybe 14 years old - were at the park too. There were probably 5 of them; mostly harmless. Not punks or anything. It just struck me that they were not talking to each other. They were all sitting underneath the playground structure texting. In fact, after watching them for a while, I am fairly confident, based on their body language and laughter, that they were texting each other!
Now, I have texted people sitting next to me in a work meeting in order to be polite. I have IM'd someone at work 4 feet away from me while I am on the phone with someone else. But, c'mon!
So, do we really think that kids having the ability to text has any value? I just see stunted relationships and inability to communicate. What are the benefits? Someone help me understand.
Just the other day, we celebrated our 11 year old's birthday. All her friends were dropped off at our house by parents who, for some reason, felt that their children needed to bring along their cell phone. You should have seen it. Right when they walked in, each girl was making calls to other friends. We even had at least one inter-house phone call!
And the texting! They were texting each other at the dinner table and in the car as we drove to our destination. Somewhat awkward, to say the least, for those that did not have phones. And totally annoying.
Finally, my wife put an end to it and told them all that they were no longer allowed to use their phones. I mean, you go to someone's house for a birthday party and call other people?! You text someone standing right next to you?!
Help me understand.
Just last summer I was at the park with my kids. Some older kids - maybe 14 years old - were at the park too. There were probably 5 of them; mostly harmless. Not punks or anything. It just struck me that they were not talking to each other. They were all sitting underneath the playground structure texting. In fact, after watching them for a while, I am fairly confident, based on their body language and laughter, that they were texting each other!
Now, I have texted people sitting next to me in a work meeting in order to be polite. I have IM'd someone at work 4 feet away from me while I am on the phone with someone else. But, c'mon!
So, do we really think that kids having the ability to text has any value? I just see stunted relationships and inability to communicate. What are the benefits? Someone help me understand.
Monday, January 18, 2010
In less than a year...
...my kids have gone from computer savants to internet gurus. Grooveshark, webkins, gmail, youtube, wikipedia, and google. They come home from school and check their email (which I set up for them) and video chat (with people I think I know) and work on school projects (at least, that is what they tell me), and surf. That's right, my 11 and 9 year olds are surfing the internet...and it scares me.
Look, I spend all day long in cyberspace. Between the 75-100 emails per day, countless blogs, LinkedIn, and wiki-searches, I, like most of us out there, have plenty of experience filtering through all the crap. All the nonsense that distracts me from my goals each day. I have a System Administrator at work who keeps my Inbox mostly free from spam. We have a firewall that blocks words in emails, .exe files, and certain websites. And, I have my conscience, which leverages the years of experience and advice to guide me through the myriad of internet and email garbage.
And then there are my daughters.
Young. Clueless. Naive. Savy. Vulnerable. And growing up way too fast. Not just because the clock is spinning like a fan. No, growing up too fast because information is flying at them at uncontrollable speeds.
Yeah yeah yeah. I know what you are thinking. Come out of the dark ages already, Jeff! Well, I have a word for you - No. No, I will not concede just yet. I think there is a time and a place for everything under heaven. And I don't think an 11 year old is mature enough to be trusted on-line. And yet, as far as I can tell, few parents are paying attention enough to garner an opinion on that. Few parents know how much time their kids are online. Heck, I have to force myself to pay attention; and I think I am intentional with my kids.
But I hear about it. I see the chat strings. I hear the comments in the carpools. These kids are getting exposed to things way too early. And, meanwhile, it's like a little secret that we don't want to ask our kids about. We hardly talk about it with other parents.
So, this blog is simply a running dialogue. I expect criticism. I expect some support too. But, in the end, I just want my kids to be safe and to experience life at an appropriate pace.
Look, I spend all day long in cyberspace. Between the 75-100 emails per day, countless blogs, LinkedIn, and wiki-searches, I, like most of us out there, have plenty of experience filtering through all the crap. All the nonsense that distracts me from my goals each day. I have a System Administrator at work who keeps my Inbox mostly free from spam. We have a firewall that blocks words in emails, .exe files, and certain websites. And, I have my conscience, which leverages the years of experience and advice to guide me through the myriad of internet and email garbage.
And then there are my daughters.
Young. Clueless. Naive. Savy. Vulnerable. And growing up way too fast. Not just because the clock is spinning like a fan. No, growing up too fast because information is flying at them at uncontrollable speeds.
Yeah yeah yeah. I know what you are thinking. Come out of the dark ages already, Jeff! Well, I have a word for you - No. No, I will not concede just yet. I think there is a time and a place for everything under heaven. And I don't think an 11 year old is mature enough to be trusted on-line. And yet, as far as I can tell, few parents are paying attention enough to garner an opinion on that. Few parents know how much time their kids are online. Heck, I have to force myself to pay attention; and I think I am intentional with my kids.
But I hear about it. I see the chat strings. I hear the comments in the carpools. These kids are getting exposed to things way too early. And, meanwhile, it's like a little secret that we don't want to ask our kids about. We hardly talk about it with other parents.
So, this blog is simply a running dialogue. I expect criticism. I expect some support too. But, in the end, I just want my kids to be safe and to experience life at an appropriate pace.
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