60. My Thoughts on Raising an Only Child and Introducing Social Media and Devices to Children

I am always so excited to hear from you, my listeners and patrons, and today I’d like to respond to two topics that were sent in to me recently. The first surrounds the experience of raising an only child, and being a good friend to those who may be doing so not by choice. Our second topic is all about when and how to introduce social media and devices to your child. What I can tell you is that there are a lot of opinions out there on both topics, and today I offer you mine with some references along the way to my own experiences, both personally and professionally. In terms of the social media and device concerns, as in all aspects of raising a child, I cannot stress enough that you need to know your child – your understanding of them, the bond you have together, and the level of communication you maintain will all prove critical in navigating this successfully.   The Finer Details of This Episode: I don’t think anybody begrudges hearing about your kids and their siblings, but I wouldn’t ‘gush’ – if it’s a close friend, you can ask if it bothers them You can point out the ‘cons’ of sibling rivalry as well You really have to check yourself to not make everything super precious (Princess Syndrome) Don’t try to be friends with a parent that you’re not really ‘vibing’ with The timing and manner of introducing social media and devices varies depending upon the child – you really need to know your kid Ages 0-6 is Govern, 6-12 is Garden, and 12-18 is Guide In the ‘tween’ years, girls seem to be more susceptible to societal pressure Having a phone may be a necessity for your child Snapchat, to me, is one of the nastier platforms I think our kids are suffering from being over monitored, and are entitled to some privacy You have to have huge conversations with your child about what it means to be behind a name on social media We have to create that culture where we communicate with other parents for everyone’s safety Use common sense without being crazy Temper your own anxiety   Quotes: “I think when you have two parents and one kid there’s a ‘preciousness’ that comes about, right, just naturally.” “Nobody wants to talk about having babies on the first or second date.” “I enjoy raising an only child.” “It’s really hard in this day and age to not have a phone.” “We need to trust our kids until they’re not trustworthy, and then we pull in the reins. That is my personal belief.” “Don’t look for somebody to direct you on this. Connect with your kids and be honest – try to see your kid through a lens, try to see what they are drawn to.” “It’s really about your bond and your connection with your kid, and keeping these communication channels open.”   Links: Jamie’s homepage - http://www.jamieglowacki.com/  Oh Crap! Potty Training - https://www.amazon.com/Crap-Potty-Training-Everything-Parenting-ebook/dp/B00V3L8YSU Oh Crap! I Have A Toddler -  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Oh-Crap!-I-Have-a-Toddler/Jamie-Glowacki/Oh-Crap-Parenting/9781982109738 Jamie’s Patreon Page: https://www.patreon.com/join/jamieglowacki? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices