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Gadgets o' Plenty
Does Your Preteen Really Need That Stuff?
By Sue Marquette Poremba
Parents also should remember that, in their adolescent's world, owning these electronics is important and very much a need. Society has changed. Today's kids interact with each other differently than they did 20 years ago. Girls communicate through text and instant messaging. Boys bond over video game competitions. "To some extent, it's important for them to fit in with their peers, but we also want our kids to be able to discern what is important in life, and just because someone else has one doesn't make having it essential – and doesn't add value to character," says Marilyn Hilton of San Jose, Calif.
"Discuss the reasons behind TV commercials," says Stacy DeBroff, author of The Mom Book: 4,278 Tips for Moms (Free Press, 2002) and founder of MomCentral.com. "Teach your child to be both critical and skeptical."
Electronic gadgets and technology are going to be an inevitable part of any adolescent's life, but as much as the kids want to fit in with their friends, it remains up to the parents to decide whether a new cell phone or video game or computer is in the best interest for their child.