Boys Town Releases Tips for Managing Your Children’s New Tech Gifts

OMAHA, Neb. - Boys Town releases advice for parents on how to manage the technology gifts their children received over the holidays. The national child care organization, started over 95 years ago, offers these tips to help parents monitor their children’s technology use.

  1. Never house computers, tablets, gaming systems, or other devices in the child’s room. Keep them in a common space where you can monitor your child’s technology usage.
  2. A family policy should be established for tech use. The policy should address who the child is permitted to contact and what the child can do with the technology (surf the internet, download music, use social media or other content). Parameters should also be set for where and when he/she can use it and how the parent will monitor the usage, this is especially pertinent with teens and social media
  3. Keep in mind your child’s maturity level. Although age is a good indicator, you as a parent, know your child best.
  4. Educate yourself by learning about passwords, privacy settings, internet access, and clouds. Police the content in the games. Make sure it is age appropriate for your child by reading the ratings and by actually viewing the games, especially those online.
  5. Set limits on technology, especially on the length of time your child can play on the devices. Once kids start playing for 3 or more hours per day, it can cause impairment when it comes to socializing and being able to function appropriately with the family.

“Games played in moderation, less than one hour, have shown in some limited studies to improve problem solving, even improve or address creativity, improve psycho-social adjustment,” said Dr. Greg Snyder, psychologist at the Boys Town Center for Behavioral Health.

For more information about technology safety visit boystown.org.

About Boys Town

Nationally, Boys Town has been a beacon of hope for America’s children and families through its life-changing youth care and health care programs for more than 95 years. In 2014, Boys Town’s Integrated Continuum of youth care and health care programs impacted more than 500,000 children and families across America. This includes those who received services from Boys Town’s residential programs as well asthose served by the many varied programs that comprise the Boys Town Integrated Continuum of Child and Family Services, including In-Home Family Services, health care services provided by Boys Town National Research Hospital and the Boys Town National Hotline.

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