Parenting in a Digital World

You've seen the talk shows and heard the playgroup buzz: What the heck are we doing about the influence of social media, cell phones, games and other technology on our little angels?

Fear not! We're here to help! Over the next six months, BlogHer is taking on a groundbreaking experiment in citizen journalism with regard to parenting in the digital age. Our digital parenting ambassadors will post analysis of breaking stories, trends, and the activities of BlogHer moms from a variety of angles. In addition, the ambassadors will blog insightful personal posts that shed light on their own parenting within the matrix. We'll be rolling out essays, technology round-ups and general navel-gazing.

We'll cover geeky parenting, technology as it's embedded in our daily lives (as parents and as participants in the community), tech trendspotting, parenting headaches and triumphs caused by our devices and the social media sphere, and the same great parenting writing you're used to seeing here. Parenting, after all, is still parenting, whether or not you're doing it with your Blackberry attached.

I know I'm excited -- I've been a BlogHer Mommy & Family contributing editor for more than three years now, and this topic has come up so many times for me personally. I'm thrilled to be working with the talented group of writers who'll be bringing you this important information.

In addition, BlogHer will host a Family Connections BlogHer group to which all our digital parenting posts will be published. The easiest way to stay in the loop is to join the group. So what are you doing? Click on over and join!

We can't wait to hear your thoughts. This is a conversation, and we want to hear from YOU -- be your own beat reporter covering the ups and downs of parenting your cyberific kids. With my own daughter in kindergarten, I need your help navigating the dark waters. Come along for the ride, my friends.

Rita Arens is an editor in corporate America and a freelance writer. Her bylines have appeared in Scholastic Parent & Child, Babble, The Kansas City Star, Greater Kansas City Business, KC Weddings, and Art. She's the editor of Sleep Is for the Weak: The Best of the Mommybloggers Including Amalah, Finslippy, Fussy, Woulda Coulda Shoulda, Mom-101, and More!, which won a 2009 gold NAPPA award and has short fiction and poetry available on Kindle.

Join BlogHer’s new community journalism project! Report on how you and your family interact with technology in the age of digital parenting in the Family Connections group.

Submitted by Rita Arens (view blog

) on Mon, 10/12/2009 - 3:00am

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I wish so much I could contribute...

I am married to an uber-geek. Yes, he works for one of the largest software companies in the world. And I, formerly employed by a massively popular computer hardware company.

We are both pretty tech-savvy (yet as a SAHMer, I find myself, with no time, not able to keep up with changing technology as much as the DH).

We have twin sons who have never watched TV. Never seen a video. Don't know who "Dora and Diego" are. We have witheld these from the kids because, well... at first it was because they had muscle tone issues and we focused solely on them getting strong and walking. Then once they began to walk, we moved the AV equipment to a safe, locked place.

Now we have decided they are so used to not seeing videos and TV that we will let activity and creativity reign. Their playspace is designed for learning and physical activity, especially in the winter weather here in the Northeast.

I wonder if their peers will consider them socially inept because they are clueless about TV and videos and the characters. The DH and I were discussing this last week. Do we buy a portable DVD player and use it every once in a while in the playspace? Or do we forgoe it and just focus wholly on their body and minds.

I know there are many educational TV programs, especially on PBS... but the bonding I am getting from the boys by reading to them, painting, doing crafts... allowing independent play... is priceless.. Doctors say that kids should not watch TV or vids until age 2. They will be 2 in March.

I am still conflicted about this. When I was a child I loved TV... but my mother used it as a babysitter. And also... well, my grandparents and mother also used to zone out in front of the TV. I would read books and just immerse myself in the words -- pictures painted in my head, and not on a TV screen. Reading and writing is my passion. While I have very little time to read, I do have time to write, which is why my blog is my focus when I have precious little downtime, boys napping, or sleeping...

I just remember those days, laying on the bed, the TV downstairs droning as background noise, while I read book after book. Going to the town library was the biggest adventure for me. I learned so much from books, both fiction and non-fiction.

I don't know what we are going to do. Being as we are both geeks in our way, having worked in the computer industry for decades... how will we integrate media and all that goes with it (good and bad, the materialistic being the worst, with TV commercials).

Suggestions would be most welcomed....

Half of a Duo, Raising a Duo

http://micrimas.blogspot.com

Submitted by micrimas on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 05:33

It's a little funny that I'm working on this
project.

I actually sort of cringe when I see my daughter staring at a screen, even if it's KidPix or something I consider to be creative and worthwhile. For someone who spends her whole life tapping away at a keyboard, I don't really want that to be a huge focus for my daughter. So far, she hasn't really begged for screen time. We'll see what happens for us, as well.

I'm glad you commented because these are the issues we'll be exploring. Please bring this up in the Family Connections group -- this is a valuable discussion I'd like to keep moving!

Rita Arens writes at Surrender Dorothy and BlogHer and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak.

Submitted by Rita Arens on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 06:26

I've been writing a

I've been writing a newspaper column about parenting a daughter in college since she first went away. (She graduated in May) In looking back over the 4 years I find that many of them talk about Facebook, texting, My Space, etc. In fact the tag line is "In these days of cell phones, emails and instant messages, can the nest really be empty?"

I just started putting the earlier (first year) columns on to a blog:

http://thenestempties.blogspot.com/

Nancy

Submitted by njgeiger on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 08:54

Thanks for sharing!

Please do share any posts you've all written on this subject!

Rita Arens writes at Surrender Dorothy and BlogHer and is the editor of Sleep is for the Weak.

Submitted by Rita Arens on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 12:39

Hi Rita

My first child is due at Christmas (I'm a blimp!) and this is something I've been thinking about a lot. I think my first six months at home is going to be very different to my mother's.

We don't own a TV, but have two laptops that are on pretty much the whole time we are home. I'm wondering how that will change, and if we'll feel the need to get a tv when we have an active toddler.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to hearing everybody's stories!

http://myrope.wordpress.com

Submitted by kazari on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 16:39

Mine, Theirs and Ours

Now that my children are older, ages 9 and 13, there are some tricky challenges that accompany using all of this George Jetson technology. I recently told my kids that CD's did not exist when I was their age and I swear I think their heads exploded. I am looking forward to sharing some of my own tips and tricks as well as writing about the latest trends and news as it relates to parenting our kids in this age of uber information. www.parentopia.com/blog

Submitted by Devra Renner on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 16:59