8 Wishes Connected Kids Have For Their Parents
Posted by Marti Weston on January 15, 2013
With more than 30 years as a teacher including over 20 in the educational technology field, I’ve heard many kids reflect thoughtfully, and not so thoughtfully, on their parents’ digital skills. Kids often wonder why parents don’t always model the digital citizenship expectations that they want their children to learn and apply.
Here are the eight most common “I Wish” statements that I’ve heard expressed by children over the last 16 or 17 years. Two of them, I can report, my daughter also mentioned to me ages ago.
Kids Wish Their Parents and Other Adults Would
- Try to learn a lot more about computers in particular and technology in general.
- Stop saying they don’t know much about technology (mom’s especially)
- Do not use Blackberries and phones at sports games and school events
- Learn to play some of the kids’ online games.
- Understand more about helping with searches on the Internet.
- Understand how hard it is to learn the technology rules and regulations and not always threaten to take away technology access when there’s a problem.
- Stop automatically saying that new things like Wikipedia are questionable.
- Don’t act dumb about technology – act like you want to learn new things.
To learn a bit more read 4 Lessons for Parents in a Constantly Connected World over at the Mashable site.
Books that Address the Monumental Cultural Changes in Our Lives
(and help parents and other adults understand more about digital kids)
- Hamlet’s Backberry - William Powers
- Alone Together - Sherry Turkle
- Born Digital: The First Generation of Digital Natives – John Palfrey
- Net Smarts - Howard Rheingold
Bill Freitas said
Marti – great post! Thanks for sharing your expertise and experience in this area. The 8 wishes are really important for today’s parents to know and understand.
Makes me wonder if the “digital divide” is also generational, between parents and their children.
Bill.
Marti Weston said
Great question, Bill. That question may just help me with a future post!
Kristina said
Take a look at this great video of kids explaining the cloud! Talk about kids changing the world with technology! http://bit.ly/kidsexplainthecloud