We might know that there is a connection between digital technology and parenting problems – but it is hard to decipher where the problems lie and whether your family is at risk. Parenting was never going to be an easy, fact. There will be up and downs along the way, but the worst of those downs are the ones we can’t foresee, can’t control or fully understand.

Can parents really win a battle against the internet? Can we determine what our children have access to and what they might stumble upon whilst browsing through the web?

Parental controls on home computers have helped a smidgeon, but it won’t make a difference when they are visiting friends whose computers you can’t control. You don’t want to ban them from chatting with friends over the web, but you can’t help but feel nervous about some friends whose faces you never saw.

Sexting is another major issue with teens sending vulnerable photos over the internet…but what are the risks of the digital age and as parents, what role should we take in relation to a child’s internet or cellphone use?

Perhaps we are just jumping on a bandwagon, perhaps we are overacting to something that isn’t much different to problems kids can face in school – bullying has been around before computers were invented, a handful of children was sexually adventurous before terms like ‘sexting’ were even coined.

Let us not forget too. That television exposed our youngsters to bad habits and violence before video-games came along. Children and teens have always taken risks, and it can’t be pinned to digital media alone. A part of it is as natural as the role of hormone change and growing up.

Each child is different and some will take risks more willingly than others – as a parent you should be able to assess how mature or reckless your child is and whether actions should be taken to protect them from the digital risks, or even to risks in the school or when they are out with friends.

Credit : novemberwolf