Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I`m no mom, but I do know attempting to shield kids from inconvenient information is a lost cause. Maybe it would be better to stay current on the information that your kids are going to get anyway, and be ready to augment their information with reality and your own sense of what`s right? If there`s an atmosphere of "I`m not supposed to know this" then you`ll be left in the dark when they won`t want to admit knowing it. I know that I personally didn`t talk about taboo subjects with my parents. If authors like Orwell taught us anything, it`s that you can`t suppress information. So, you might as well be as up to date on it as possible, and ready to fight misconceptions and inject some good morality into the information. That`s my outsider take on the subject.

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Making limitless possibilities much more limited.

Based on our other thread involving marketing via fear or joy, I`d suggest you build a marketing strategy on the idea that kids are dropping dead everywhere. All from whatever`s taking place in the world at large. That seems to be the primary motivator in Washington, and even in many state legislatures.

You could do some search-engine marketing with articles having such titles as, "Do you Want YOUR Child to be a Sociopath?" Or maybe, "Cell Phone Leads Child to Murder 12 People."

Things like that.

I have to agree with Matt, and giggle at Craig.

When it comes down to it, the communication is key. Knowing what is out there and framing it in terms and explanations that are acceptable to you and your children seems the best solution.

Just be prepared - what you learn from the youngsters may shock you. I have a theory that crazy new sex acts get transitioned from porn films to bad parents, to their kids, to the general elementary school population. By the time you`re sitting down to explain the birds and the bees, their best friends already taught them about oral sex and more. Parents these days are always two steps behind their children. It`s 2009, and Leave it to Beaver and Brady Bunch aren`t the social model to live by.  If you`re not willing to learn and confront all that`s naughty and inappropriate, no problem at all, the kid in the back of the bus has THAT conversation all taken care of. Gotta be proactive in dealing with inconvenient information. The days of being on the defense are long past. You`ll need to know it first. It`s the internet. You can`t shield kids from anything.

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Making limitless possibilities much more limited.

On the way to and from work, I listen to audio books. Right now, I am listening to Freakonomics.

In Freakonomics, they discuss parenting and child development and present some fascinating studies. About 50% of a child`s personality is nature... and the other 50%? Not parenting, as you might expect (according to the data), but peers.

I think that my parents did shape me quite a bit, but I can look back and see that my total life experience has shaped me more. What my parents did was give me some thoughts on how to view the world, which have helped me, no matter what I have come across.

Anyway, my point is... I agree with Matt (again).

And once again, referring to the fear-and-joy topic, the original premise in this topic is that, "parents should protect their children."

Why not have an equally important premise that, "parents should educate their children?"

Which is stronger, or are they of equal importance?

Well, if you take the peers as a direct correlator to what children do/are exposed to, then the logical (and proven theory, at least according to the data in Freakonomics) extrapolation is that parents DO pass on to their children certain attitudes and ways of living life that will out, especially once the child reaches adulthood.

Fascinating stuff.

Wow, some great insight, I agree that parents are far behind their kids and that is why I created the blog. To give insight so parents can point their kids in the right direction and be able to inform their kids with the right info so they can be alert for cyberspace nuts. I want it to be informative short and visual not preachy.  I really wish you all would put your comments on my blog. I am going to be giving out a lot of flyers at kids events and your comments are really good and parents should read them so they can get it..It is more effective when it comes from more than one person.  Thanks alot.    Mobile Kids. I like your site at Some Ex log is beautiful.  Matt you should have a blog. Craig great points with a twist of humor.

I think they are of equal importance.  I think we must do 3 things, educate, communicate and protect.  A combination of those 3 seems to be working here at my house.  Of course, that is subject to explode at any time!  We are talking about kids here.