4Real Forums: Using technology with teens

Oh, Dearest Mother, Sweetest Virgin of Altagracia, our Patroness. You are our Advocate and to you we recommend our needs. You are our Teacher and like disciples we come to learn from the example of your holy life. You are our Mother, and like children, we come to offer you all of the love of our hearts. Receive, dearest Mother, our offerings and listen attentively to our supplications. Amen.

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High School Years and Beyond
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Topic: Using technology with teens

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Leonie
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Joined: Jan 28 2005
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Posted: Oct 28 2009 at 4:34pm \| IP Logged

On Mary's Facebook thread I mentioned how one of my older sons and I often use Facebook as a way of talking about a private and/or sensitive issue, without younger sons listening in.

Got me thinking about how technology actually has worked in a positive way, in my interactions with my teens.

Has anyone else found this, or use technology as an extra way of communciating with kids?

For example, I am usually up before most of my teens. Before I go to Mass, when I am organising my day, I sometimes send a text to the kids, letting them know the plans for the day..You know..."make sure you are up and ready by 8.30 cos we have to be out early or have to clean for French class. Today is St Simon and St Jude so we are having cake for Anthony's name day. I have a work meeting and a parish council meeting tonight..".. That kind of thing.

They listen more and have a permanent record with texts, rather than with my nags.

At the start of the week, I often email links or suggested project activities to some of the kids..Again, they see it when they check their email and they have a voiceless reminder..and the links are a way of virtual educational unschooling strewing.

So, anyone else use technology in this way with teens?

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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School

stefoodie
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Joined: Feb 17 2005
Location: Ohio
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Posted: Oct 28 2009 at 5:15pm \| IP Logged

oh yes. we e-mail and chat and FB all the time. it's also very helpful esp. when she's not home and i remember something i wanted to tell/ask her. or when we have issues to iron out.... sometimes it's better to just write it all down than to go round and round in circles and getting into emotional arguments. when we can see clearly where each other is coming from, it helps. i'm not saying this is the way we want to communicate all the time, but it's an additional avenue we've been able to put to good use.

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stef

mom to five

Erin
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Joined: Feb 23 2005
Location: Australia
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Posted: Oct 28 2009 at 11:30pm \| IP Logged

I never 'got it' until I arrived at this place. I email my teenagers links to educational sites, or books, that I want their opinion on and they 'look'. They follow up and think, I've even emailed my dd articles to get her opinion even though she is in the next room.

I'm seeing benefits, they are having to structure their arguments to me for or against in a sequential manner. Or if its the sites they are far more likely to look and interact instead of me just saying it. They switch off then. Perhaps its because they get little other mail and its a novelty, anyhow it works!!

I 'get it' now.

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Erin
Faith Filled Days
Seven Little Australians

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