We are raising children in a time of instant everything. They don’t have to go to the theatre to go see a movie any more. They can just pop one in the DVD player and there it is. Even the popcorn is practically instant, as opposed to the Jiffy Pop we had to hold over a hot stove and shake. If you want a real reality check, show your child a vinyl record album and watch their reaction. They will just stare in amazement and then laugh uncontrollably.

Even the way we obtain information has changed drastically from the days of having to go to the library and actually open a book. Now all we have to do is turn on the computer and punch a few buttons and the world is opened to us. Why search through a card catalog when all you have to do is “Ask Jeeves!”.
We even have instant messaging! No more putting pen to paper, putting it in an envelope, sending it through the mail, or should I say “snail-mail,” to our friends and waiting weeks to get a reply.

In this day and time we can be connected immediately. To anyone, anywhere. Not only can you type your message to a friend and get a reply in just the time it takes them to type one back and hit enter but you can also talk to and see them using your computer. In real time no less.

All of these were things we grew up seeing on the Jetson’s or Will Rogers. We never dreamed that they were possible in our lifetime. Yet our children can’t live without them.

With the wide range of information available on the internet it is more important than ever to monitor our children’s computer use.

Even when they aren’t trying to find things they shouldn’t, the internet could take them to things you don’t want them to see. And really don’t want to have to explain.

Explaining to your children about responsible internet use and what is appropriate and what is not, while they are young, may save you a lot of headaches as they grow into teenagers.

Websites like MySpace, YouTube and FaceBook allow for the posting of pictures, which they took with a digital camera (and we were impressed with the Kodak Instamatic cameras), some of which are more inappropriate for them to be looking at than a Playboy.

We as parents in today’s internet world, have to be aware of not just where our children are in the neighborhood but also where they are going on the internet.