Say you were a guardian or parent and get to decide when a child can get a phone or use a computer and get internet with it. If you wish you can also install software and change router settings to what you see fit.
Some parents decide to forbid the internet completely, others are more relaxed. Some go the helicopter route, and some do not care whatsoever what their kid does online.
What is your policy on letting a child use the internet?
This is a very obscured statement. Why does your kids’ therapist insist on this? Very relevant information, if you ask me.
I didn’t really mean for it to be taken as a blanket statement either. You know your kids better. I’m just saying what I believe to be true in normal circumstances.
My kids haven’t had normal circumstances.
A lot of kids don’t.
I would even argue what “normal” even is…
BTW: what are some ways that people can become parents? If your list is longer than one entry, you’re catching on.
You’re right to ask for a definition of what “normal” means. That’s relevant.
To me, normal means you actually wanted your kids in the first place, want what’s best for them, you live in a relatively safe environment with western values (perhaps optional, perhaps not), with enough money to own devices where you can watch YouTube, in this particular case. That’s about it.
Obviously not a blanket thing we can apply globally, no.
But trust in my opinion is worth it’s weight in gold. Trust generates trust. Look at how cats show trust, by not really looking at each other at all, and acting relaxed by maybe sitting down and closing their eyes. Because if you are tense, and you keep watching the other cat, it means you need to see their next move in order to react to an attack. When the other cat sees the first one isn’t a threat, they do the same thing. Perfect analogy to this situation IMO. Show your kids trust and they will reciprocate. Maybe not immediately but they will grow into it. That’s what I believe. 🙂