by Ceinna Childers

Created on: July 01, 2007

Mine is a computer family and my husband and I were online before our kids were. We got the kids involved in the computer and they got us involved in some of the online communities like myspace. Staying connected has never been a problem for us because the computers and the internet have always been such a big part of our lives. Here are a few of the things we do to stay connected:

1. Computers are visible. Parents have passwords.

2. We talk about what each other are doing. Conversation, not just questions, not snooping. (for example, when I share a scenario of something odd that happened to me online my kids will tell me if the same thing has happened to them or if they've heard of it happening if not, they will tell me how they would handle it)

3. We're on each other's myspace. We send each other comments, messages, look at each other's friends lists and talk about them. Talking is usually in the form of a funny comment or joke, not accusing or insulting. (i.e. "I noticed you've got some friends from work on your myspace now. That's pretty cool" instead of "Why do you have those weird gamers on your myspace?")

4. We send each other funny or interesting emails, pictures, etc. we know would be interesting to each other.

5. We IM each other frequently even if only a room apart.

6. If the teen has their own computer, keep it in a room where you spend a lot of time so you still interact and the teen doesn't become isolated in their bedroom.

7. If the teen's computer is in their bedroom, go in their room and lie across their bed and chat with them while looking through a magazine or something. Notice what they're doing on the computer. Keep it light.

8. Find games you can play together on the computer.

9. If you share the same computer, ask your teen to teach you how to do something on it. (you may be able to do this even if you don't share the computer)

10. Shop together online. When your teen mentions something they want or something they saw that they like suggest finding it together online to find out where it's sold and how much it costs.

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