Re: O.T. - monitoring computer use

Carolyn:
   You may not agree with me, but  speaking from my general experience with
two boys:  if yours is 14 and is slavering over these websites etc. (as I
did at that age with  illustrations in an encyclopedia - now laughable)
it's pretty late to hope you can "protect" his innocence from the world of
sleaze.  Give him back the keyboard and mouse, tell him the stuff he
watches disgusts and embarrasses you and you're deleting anything that
arrives in your mailbox, then let him do what he wants in private.  If he's
anywhere near a normal personality he'll eventually get bored with it all
and may suffer a reverse reaction, like someone who has gorged on cake to
the point of illness.

The important thing is to keep the lines of communication open and not
make him feel powerless to decide for himself.  It takes a lot of patience
and forbearance, I know.  Just be totally honest about your own reactions.
Kids respect that.

Maria




>Claire P said -->
>
>>I have an eleven year old grandson and moving him from a child's account to a
>>regular account so he could actually use search engines has produced some of
>>the most hair raising stuff I have seen come to our mailboxes.  We are now
>>monitoring his account each morning and he requires permission to sign on.
>>
>
>How do you  monitor his account and give permission????? I have followed
>Dr. Phil's advice and locked the keyboard and mouse in the car, but that
>doesn't give me as much control as I'd like!!!!
>
>My boy is 14 (er, 24, he thinks) -- as I look over his shoulder, I've
>seen chat rooms, instant messaging, porn sites, and how to do just about
>everything -- in great detail!
>
>I wonder if there's a site for parents who need to monitor kids' work on
>the computer!!!
>
>Carolyn Schaffner in Buffalo, NY
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