under 18 epidemic

Last time I checked, Bill owns more than just Microsoft, and employs a full time cook, sous chef, several maids, owns the Bill and Miranda Gates foundation, Corbis, and much more. It isn't my fault you are such a computer wiz and because of that you believe fact that BG ONLY owns MS. Oh, but I'm just a self righteous idiot with bad parents, I can't know this stuff!

BTW, sweets, I love how you run a full page on sarcasm, then take mine as fact. Nice touch, doesn't work!

Ehm... I've overlooked this thread so far. I just wrote something similar on the blog. In my childhood, several of my friends had their own TV set in their room. It was far from being the norm at that time. My family had one TV set in the living room, and I was supposed to ask before I was allowed to watch TV. My parents actually checked a TV program guide and decided what I was allowed to see. And guess what? I always asked. I was more into books anyway (german TV program was pretty boring at that time, with just three TV stations).

I surely wasn't a model child and misbehaved as much as other children. But I don't know where the idea comes from that every child is hell-bent of lying, deceiving and even lockpicking. I guess my parents did quite a good job in that regard; they raised me without much physical discipline (actually I only remember one slap, and in that situation I can understand it, looking back). They simply made the effort to tell me exactly WHY they didn't want me to do certain things. Kids aren't immune to reason, they're only quite immune to a "one simply doesn't do that" without a reasonable explanation. I often baby-sat for my sister when my nephew and my niece were younger and noticed the same; a logical explanation always had an effect. "You really should wash your hands before dinner, because otherwise germs and bacteria might get from your hands onto your food and make you ill" instead of "Wash your hands, right now, because I say so". Just an example. It works. Even more important: my mother made it clear that it hurt her and disappointed her when I didn't follow her orders, or rather her advices. That worked well too. I didn't want to disappoint my mom, I wanted her to be proud of me. It doesn't have to be "Parents vs. Kids".

My sister's kids are now 11 and 14 years of age. They also don't have their own TV and there's only one family computer. If they want to play a computer game, they'll have to wait until one of their parents is home. If they need to do some internet research for their homework, they never do that unsupervised. The computer is placed in a study close to their kitchen, and my sister or brother-in-law will go and take a look every once in a while. They even sit down with their children, ask what they're looking for and help to find it; it's quite a normal thing that parent's help their children with their homework. Aside from that, a kid doesn't need internet access. What for? Their main source of knowledge are their parents, not an internet forum.

Btw, my sister promised her son that he'll get his own computer at his 16th birthday. Just a computer, no internet connection. When I look at that family I can see that children don't need an own TV set, an own computer, a game console and whatnot. Their parents spend a lot of time with them, as do their grandparents. There's no need for other electronic babysitters. And yes, both my sister and my brother-in-law are working (my sister only half-time, while the kids are at school).

Of course I don't want to tell anyone how they're supposed to raise their kids. Every parent or couple of parents has to decide that on their own. And they are pretty much on their own; they can't trust TV stations to show a kid-friendly program 24 hours a day, they can't trust a video rental or cinema employee to ask every younger customer for their ID card, they can't trust a supermarket cashier not to sell alcohol or cigarettes to kids (allowed from 16 years of age in Germany, often sold to 14 year old kids already), they can't trust the circle of friends of their kids to keep their hands off drugs (the possession of small amounts of cannabis products is legal here), and they can't trust a software like NetNanny to work perfect. It's always been like that, parents have to protect their kids because no one else will do it for them. No one else is supposed to do it.

I'm absolutely glad you have a tech buddy to come check on things, they are more than likely going to be able to know where to dig. I think it's awesome. But that's not a luxury to many. I'd venture to guess that many parents don't have someone who's savvy enough to dig in the right places. Not because of any particular reason, but more so in seeing numbers on the ages of tech related fields compared to the overall population.

specially when you can have it for a few euro's per month.

I've read arguments such as "what about parents who can't look over their kids' shoulder" etc. If you don't feel your job and your lifestyle will let you supervise your kid and raise it so that it has a sense of responsibility and a feel of what is appropriate for its age and what's not, then don't get pregnant; the latex industry - and the pharmaceutical one, too - provides the tools to avoid a pregnancy that will lead to the birth of a human being you have no time or willingness to take care of.

I just wonder who giving someone under 18 a credit card? Isn't this requirement?
Isn't that part of the verification process?

Sounds great; thing is, when one looks at such services in detail, or asks for track records or disputes settled, one starts to understand why (according to some very reputable sources) the MAJORITY - that's over 50% - of the world's home PCs are infected, with their users having no idea of the truth of the situation.

Ehm... I've overlooked this thread so far. I just wrote something similar on the blog. In my childhood, several of my friends had their own TV set in their room. It was far from being the norm at that time. My family had one TV set in the living room, and I was supposed to ask before I was allowed to watch TV. My parents actually checked a TV program guide and decided what I was allowed to see. And guess what? I always asked. I was more into books anyway (german TV program was pretty boring at that time, with just three TV stations).

I surely wasn't a model child and misbehaved as much as other children. But I don't know where the idea comes from that every child is hell-bent of lying, deceiving and even lockpicking. I guess my parents did quite a good job in that regard; they raised me without much physical discipline (actually I only remember one slap, and in that situation I can understand it, looking back).

They simply made the effort to tell me exactly WHY they didn't want me to do certain things. Kids aren't immune to reason, they're only quite immune to a "one simply doesn't do that" without a reasonable explanation. I often baby-sat for my sister when my nephew and my niece were younger and noticed the same; a logical explanation always had an effect. "You really should wash your hands before dinner, because otherwise germs and bacteria might get from your hands onto your food and make you ill" instead of "Wash your hands, right now, because I say so". Just an example. It works. Even more important: my mother made it clear that it hurt her and disappointed her when I didn't follow her orders, or rather her advices. That worked well too. I didn't want to disappoint my mom, I wanted her to be proud of me. It doesn't have to be "Parents vs. Kids".

My sister's kids are now 11 and 14 years of age. They also don't have their own TV and there's only one family computer. If they want to play a computer game, they'll have to wait until one of their parents is home. If they need to do some internet research for their homework, they never do that unsupervised. The computer is placed in a study close to their kitchen, and my sister or brother-in-law will go and take a look every once in a while. They even sit down with their children, ask what they're looking for and help to find it; it's quite a normal thing that parent's help their children with their homework. Aside from that, a kid doesn't need internet access. What for? Their main source of knowledge are their parents, not an internet forum.

Of course I don't want to tell anyone how they're supposed to raise their kids. Every parent or couple of parents has to decide that on their own. And they are pretty much on their own; they can't trust TV stations to show a kid-friendly program 24 hours a day, they can't trust a video rental or cinema employee to ask every younger customer for their ID card, they can't trust a supermarket cashier not to sell alcohol or cigarettes to kids (allowed from 16 years of age in Germany, often sold to 14 year old kids already), they can't trust the circle of friends of their kids to keep their hands off drugs (the possession of small amounts of cannabis products is legal here), and they can't trust a software like NetNanny to work perfect. It's always been like that, parents have to protect their kids because no one else will do it for them. No one else is supposed to do it.

Parenting is a very serious and time-consuming business and demands that one of the two parents makes great sacrifices in his/her career. If someone doesn't want to recognize this simple fact, s/he is deluded. I say leave the parenting to those determined to dedicate the time and effort it takes. And no, we cannot expect the state, the TV, the corporations (for crying out loud!!!) to raise OUR kids. Let us FINALLY reinstate the notion of personal responsibility in our lives.

parenting is pretty easy if you sign up your kids for after school programs, swimming classes, sports, art classes etc. life is easier, and your kids will thank you for it.

Parenting is a very serious and time-consuming business and demands that one of the two parents makes great sacrifices in his/her career. If someone doesn't want to recognize this simple fact, s/he is deluded. I say leave the parenting to those determined to dedicate the time and effort it takes. And no, we cannot expect the state, the TV, the corporations (for crying out loud!!!) to raise OUR kids. Let us FINALLY reinstate the notion of personal responsibility in our lives.

Parenting is a very serious and time-consuming business and demands that one of the two parents makes great sacrifices in his/her career. If someone doesn't want to recognize this simple fact, s/he is deluded. I say leave the parenting to those determined to dedicate the time and effort it takes. And no, we cannot expect the state, the TV, the corporations (for crying out loud!!!) to raise OUR kids. Let us FINALLY reinstate the notion of personal responsibility in our lives.

Because as everyone knows tired, overstimulated, overregulated children are what parents should aim for.

Why not let kids be kids? Riding bikes, building forts, playing Barbie. And if they are over 16, then they need to have a job to help support the family.

That is why I said, make it impossible for them to install anything.
Morwen

children can do these things on the weekend or before bedtime. as long as they don't interfere with the work schedules of their dual income family. barbies cost money and so do bicycles. childhood must be accomodating to working parents.

Sorry but, seems that the most Parents are still using the admin and/or an user with admin rights on Winodws XP ?

Just make an good Password for the Admin Account and a new Account for your Kids on the PC that forbids to install Software, or to open Programs/websites etc..that is controlled by the Admin...you cannot....you're really need to learn this...Concerns are using this too..very secure...

Juani the problem is most of these folks work and are not raising their children they replace parenting with material things and thats not really parenting. Work isn't an excuse and you know that as well as I do. Its a matter of finding a job that can support your family and allow you to be a parent to your child at the same time what you said is exactly my point your letting the children be raised by the school rather then by your own hand your thus not being the parent.

Providing for your kids is fine and all but there is a line that needs to be drawn when you cant actually take care of them aside from putting food on the table or buying them the newest thing. Finding out what your kids are into is an important part of parenting irregardless. As a parent you need to be able to relate in some ways with what your kids are into an putting them into after school programs becomes silly after a point. Pushing them into things they aren't into for instance like key club or something is absurd.

If your doing your job as a parent your making time to spend with your kids thats plain and simple. Providing for your children financially is only one aspect of being a parent and if you don't partake in the other aspect of it then, maybe you shouldn't be a parent in the interim aspect of it especially if your a dual income family. One parent in that situation should at least be able to make time irregardless.

People have been working AND raising kids for centuries. But only in recent years have people left the latter task to the TV because they "don't have the time". Lack of time to raise one's kids is the most pathetic excuse I've ever heard. And, whether one accepts it or not, giving birth to children and raising them is a very serious task. If you feel you cannot accept this responsibility, then don't make others suffer your refusal to accept your responsibilities. How? Simply: don't have kids if you don't want to raise them and invest the time it takes to raise them. And, by the way, are we absolutely sure our kids NEED to have the latest cel phone or a fleet of gaming consoles accompanied by a hundred games for each? We've replaced upbringing with spending money.

Raising children requires time and EFFORT. It's a matter of dedication, responsibility and effort. Whoever isn't dedicated enough... Well, s/he is unsuitable for this process.-

Do you have anything to back up the idea that working families are leaving their kids to electronics?