Technology and Family Values

I held a half-day professional training recently, and during a break, I was chatting with one of the attendees about the overwhelming number of technologies, devices, apps, and ways to be deceitful, as well as the innocent mistakes that could significantly impact a developing youth. The attendee asked, “How can we as adults keep up with every single thing?”

My response was quick and seemed to come from nowhere. I said, “It all comes down to your family values.” I then went on to explain to her (while texting my wife to send a picture so I could add it to the training) about a list of Family Rules (values) our kids made a few years ago and hung on the wall in our kitchen. We live in a semi-rural area, and there was a large pin oak tree that had recently been cut down for firewood. I took a few of the smaller pieces and ran them through my table saw to make live edge pieces. The kids then took to the paint as we discussed family values/rules and wrote down what we felt was important for our family. Once we were done, we hung them on the wall, where they stand as a subtle reminder of what we practice in our family.

Yes, there are many apps, technologies, and troublesome things lurking in the cyberworld, but if we create a set of Family Rules (values) and instill these in our kids as they grow, then any troublesome behavior or technology that we encounter can be discussed with the foundation of our family values. Have your family values written down where the kiddos can see them. Then you can discuss how whatever comes their way, digital or in-person, will meet or conflict with your family values. If we instill these strongly enough, they will be able to discern for themselves, when we are not around, if what they are about to click or say or use meets their own personal values within the larger frame of your family values.  
~ Ryan