My favorite CBC morning show had a segment about supervising your children electronically. I knew that development in this field was on going so it shouldn't have surprised me at how highly developed supervising children by internet has come.
So your kid has a phone and daddy has the supervisory program and away we go. You know where the kid is at all times and if he/she is not where they're supposed to be then all hell breaks loose.
So with this program you know where the kid is in the school. You know if he/she is in the right classroom. You know if he/she is at Freddie's house and not George's house. You know if the child is walking home and exactly where he/she is.
So the question is , is this much supervision necessary? Is this much supervision good for the child? Does this take away the good old discussion with parents about responsibility? Does this give kids a chance to learn to be independent? When do you stop following little Johnny?
There must be some way around this rigid supervision and trust me kids will find it. So you've given the kid an opportunity to practice being devious.
My kids grew up in the seventies and were free range kids. They look back at the fun they had and the responsibilities they learned.
I grew up in the 40's on a farm with very little supervision. We were active all day and had many learning experiences.
I'll admit that I was a devious little fellow. That characteristic in me is whirling around to see how I could beat the system.
When my brother and I were growing up on the farm we quite often roved around the country in some Dad's car. Dad got tired of us coming home late. One day he said, " If your not home by ten PM, I'll put a knife in the door and you can't get in the house." We'd lost the key to the house door so a knife was used.
My brother carefully left his bedroom window open above the garage roof. Easy , peasy. He got in the house. I just went to the door and found that it was not locked.
So there is much more to think about with electronic supervision and raising children.
That gave me a really good laugh first thing this Sunday morning. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWe got old enough that Dad laughed about this one too.
DeleteMy brother used to work for a cable TV company. He was one of those guys you see crouched by the roadside trying to sort out the entrails of the utility boxes. They were all issued with tablets on which they received their calls etc. but it also meant that the boss could track exactly where they were. What to do? Lock the damn thing in the utility box and go off and get a coffee.
ReplyDeleteI think thee will be many simple ways to get by this supervision.
DeleteMy brother used to work for a cable TV company. He was one of those guys you see crouched by the roadside trying to sort out the entrails of the utility boxes. They were all issued with tablets on which they received their calls etc. but it also meant that the boss could track exactly where they were. What to do? Lock the damn thing in the utility box and go off and get a coffee.
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot of supervision. I can see where my closest four loved ones are at any given time, but that it it. It came in handy the other night when JJ got himself stick at a fair.
ReplyDeleteBut you're not watching your loved ones constantly. At my age some people would like to follow me!
DeleteYour thoughts are spot on. I think all of this "helicopter" parenting is creating kids who can't think for themselves and learn how to solve a problem. The techno you describe seems to be ripe for creating wimpy kids. Kids need learning time in nature and the neighborhood without always being seen by "Big Brother Mom." Kinda creepy actually. The one goofy thing my Mom did, was to ground me for a specific time, like a week. But as we got towards the end of that, she forgot she'd grounded me. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteSometimes people set up situations that are almost impossible to carry out.
DeleteThis was amusing, Red. I think that if kids want to be devious than they will figure out ways to be devious. I think all kids remember being devious at some time to get around their family rules!?!
ReplyDeleteSome are more devious than others.
DeleteKids will find a way around it, they always do.
ReplyDeleteGetting around things is a way to learn. sometimes it's good stuff and sometimes it's bad.
DeleteVery funny about you and your brother Red. I have read about parents sewing AirTags into their young children’s clothing. It is a little startling to that we have reached this level of technology. Good and bad things in all I guess, though when we are given this technology to keep kids safe, I am of two minds. It will be interesting to see the statistics 20 years down the road.
ReplyDeleteGood point about what happens in the long run.
DeleteI can see wanting to know where your kid is, but I think parents should use those tools sparingly. Kids need independence.
ReplyDeleteYes , there will be a time you really need to find your kid such as when they are late getting home.
DeleteI saw a program where a mother was cutting up a banana for her son. Her friend said, "Isn't he able to do that for himself?" She went off on a long tirade about her baby might cut himself, and nah. He was not handling a knife. The boy was 15. The thing that I find ironic about your post is that e supervision of kids is happening only because of their time spent on electronics. It really has become a double edged sword. Kids have access to too much too soon, and they are not equipped to handle it.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Our province is banning school cell phones for under gr six.
DeleteRed, Reading your post this morning makes me really happy. I'll be smiling all day about how lucky I am to have grown up when I did. 😊 John
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I don't have to decide how much to monitor my child. I think even my child doesn't put survelience on her now young adult kids.
ReplyDeleteFollowing adult children would be a step much too far. And then the wife starts following her husband.
DeleteI would not want to be raising children today! There is so much to consider!
ReplyDeleteI think kids have it much harder today. Anxiety is at a high level and gives kids very little confidence.
DeleteI was a free range kid in the forties. So were my kids in the seventies and my grands. They need to learn to be responsible...and safe.
ReplyDeleteYes, sometimes they have to learn the hard way.
DeleteIn some instances monitoring can be okay..if you have a child that needs some supervision other than that...I was raised on the farm...couldn't go too far to get into too much trouble!
ReplyDeleteIf you were a boy on the farm you could get into no end of trouble.
ReplyDeleteI like the optimism in checking the door before making the roof climb!
ReplyDeleteI know many families where children and partners are electronically tracked at all times. I don't like it at all, I think it's invasive and only serves to make the tracker more anxious.
I like John's story about locking the tablet in the utility box
How could such a naughty farmboy become a trusted member of the noble teaching profession? It just does not make sense.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the post!
ReplyDeleteHere in east parents have totally different attitude towards children and they think that children need to be look after all the time not just physically but mentally too they need guidance of elders so can learn to face life accurately.
I am glad after technology arrived things are changing slowly
I do worry about my daughter having been a bit of a helicopter parent for our granddaughter. Tif was an at home mom and then went to work part time until our granddaughter was in high school.
ReplyDeleteBy contrast, I trusted Tiffany to take care of herself and her brother when I started teaching when she was in 5th grade and her brother was in 2nd grade. Tiffany grew up to be super responsible and an independent quick thinker. I'm hoping my granddaughter will gain more independence now that Tif has taken a full time job.