GRAND Magazine - March/April 2014 - (Page 32-33)
PHOTO CREDIT: ©ALETIA
When your kid wants
to unfriend Grandma
Words of wisdom from a plugged-in parent
BY SHARON MILLER CINDRICH
M
y child wants to remove his grandmother
from his Facebook friend list because she
makes embarrassing comments online.
What should I do?
According to a study last year by Microsoft and
AARP, kids are connecting with grandparents in unprecedented-and sometimes slightly embarrassing-ways,
thanks to social networks.
More than 50 percent of the over-50 crowd are
online, and the benefits of cross-generational connections for kids can include a bond with culture and family
history. Grandparents benefit by staying active, learning
technology, and feeling a sense of purpose.
As great as those connections can be, teens and
grandparents are often navigating uncharted territory.
While technology can provide a wonderful opportunity to connect, it also can be a source of frustration
and anxiety for both parties. To help bridge the gap
32 GRAND
MARCH APRIL 2014
between generations, first, remember that teens can
be extra emotional and self conscious. Then, follow
these basics:
Keep comments simple. Teens are easy to
embarrass. And a seemingly benign comment like
"Way to go, super kid!" can be mortifying to a teen
in front of the friends on their social network.
Ask before posting photos. Your teen may
not appreciate being tagged in a photo where he
is politely modeling a handmade sweater from
Grandma. Grandparents should ask before posting
photos of their grandchildren.
Put it in context. Teens use the Internet to
express themselves-posting song lyrics, political views, and social comments that they may
not normally share in a conversation with their
grandparents. Grandparents should remember
that what they see and read online may be easily
misinterpreted.
Try other communication. If problems persist, a weekly email, conversation over Skype,
or phone call may be a welcome trade-off for
both sides.
This article first appeared in Chicago Parent,
January 2014.
Sharon Miller Cindrich is the
"plugged-in parent" of two
tech-savvy kids, a syndicated
columnist, and the author of
E-Parenting: Keeping Up with Your
Tech-Savvy Kids and A Smart
Girl's Guide to the Internet.
MARCH APRIL 2014 GRAND
33
http://www.aarp.org
http://sharoncindrich.tumblr.com/
http://www.amazon.com/E-Parenting-Keeping-Your-Tech-Savvy-Kids-ebook/dp/B0024NP5DS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391219847&sr=1-1&keywords-E-parenting%3A+keeping+up+with+your+tech-savvy+kids
http://www.amazon.com/E-Parenting-Keeping-Your-Tech-Savvy-Kids-ebook/dp/B0024NP5DS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391219847&sr=1-1&keywords-E-parenting%3A+keeping+up+with+your+tech-savvy+kids
http://www.amazon.com/E-Parenting-Keeping-Your-Tech-Savvy-Kids-ebook/dp/B0024NP5DS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391219847&sr=1-1&keywords-E-parenting%3A+keeping+up+with+your+tech-savvy+kids
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Girls-Internet-American-Library/dp/1593695993/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391220044&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Smart+Girl%27s+Guide+to+the+Internet
http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Girls-Internet-American-Library/dp/1593695993/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391220044&sr=1-1&keywords=A+Smart+Girl%27s+Guide+to+the+Internet
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - March/April 2014
Contents
GRAND Magazine - March/April 2014
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