{"id":154063,"date":"2022-05-24T13:52:36","date_gmt":"2022-05-24T20:52:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=154063"},"modified":"2024-01-15T19:43:50","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T03:43:50","slug":"why-you-need-to-get-a-family-technology-agreement-happening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/why-you-need-to-get-a-family-technology-agreement-happening\/","title":{"rendered":"Why You Need to Get a Family Technology Agreement Happening"},"content":{"rendered":"

There were multiple times during my digital parenting journey when I would have loved to put my head in the sand. Pretend that life was easy and that my kids weren\u2019t going to grow up and want devices and to join social media. But I didn\u2019t. I couldn\u2019t. With four kids who had technology running through their veins, I had no choice but to embrace it.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s All About Phones<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

While many kids will first experience the internet from a family laptop or via their parent\u2019s phone at a coffee shop (we\u2019ve all done it), it\u2019s when they get these devices into their hot little hands unsupervised a few years down the track that the real show starts. And that\u2019s usually when they get access to a phone. <\/span>Research from our eSafety Office shows that just under half of Aussie kids between 6 and 13 use a smartphone with about 1\/3 owning their own device<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And while we can all wax lyrical about the good old days when we used payphones and how great it would be if our kids didn\u2019t have smartphones, we need to keep it real. Technology is not going anywhere so the best thing we can to accept it\u2019s here, educates our kids about how to use it safely and introduce boundaries and rules to ensure they are as safe as possible. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

So, without further ado, let me introduce you to the concept of a family technology contract \u2013 a great way to manage your kids and their tech use.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is a Family Technology Contract?\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

I like to think of a tech agreement as a clear outline of your expectations of your kids\u2019 digital behavior \u2013 any behavior that occurs while using a device should be included in the agreement and yes, include TV here too! Now, before we progress, I have to share one key tip \u2013 don\u2019t even think of putting together an agreement like this when tensions are high, or a heated argument is still in place \u2013 it will never work. Only talk about this or start working on it when you are in a calm and serene headspace. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The most important thing is to have an agreement that is suitable for your kids\u2019 ages and maturity and one that works for your family\u2019s schedule. There\u2019s no point making your 5-year-old sign an agreement that limits their time on Instagram when they\u2019re probably quite happy visiting only the online sites that you have \u2018bookmarked\u2019 for them. And if your kids have a super busy schedule then you might want to include a rule that means there is no \u2018leisure screen time\u2019 (eg TV\/movie viewing) till all homework is complete.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Old Do My Kids Need To Be?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

While it\u2019s entirely based on your kids\u2019 interests and tech usage, I think 3 is a good age to start with a basic agreement. That\u2019s when they start understanding rules. And how old is too old for a tech contract, I hear you ask? Well, I acknowledge that introducing new rules and boundaries when your kids are well into their teens may be difficult however if things feel out of control and you are concerned about their mental health and less than ideal digital habits then it may also be exactly what you all need!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Should An Agreement Include?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Keeping an agreement age-appropriate and relevant is essential. You may also want to keep it simple and focus on a few key things, such as:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n