Plugged-In Parenting

Judy Arnall, author of Discipline Without Distress, wants to help moms and dads build relationships with their kids that allow for positive Internet gaming and social-networking experiences while also keeping children safe and helping them become successful. So while host Arnall here covers the pitfalls of online activities, she also mentions various academic, social, and lifestyle benefits. Parents are offered several cyber-safety tips, such as having a teen keep a junk e-mail account and a “real” one, using pseudonyms on social-networking sites, and “lurking” without posting to keep an eye on a child's account. Arnall says she gave up punishing her own children years ago (“There's no room for punishment in a love relationship”) and suggests alternatives. Towards that end, vignettes are used to illustrate (perhaps optimistically) how parents and teens can brainstorm and use problem-solving strategies to resolve conflict. For each of four age levels—from infancy to 19 years—Arnall discusses appropriate computer usage, the adult's role in teaching “digital intelligence,” online safety issues, and strategies for reducing kids' screen time. While there's a lot of information presented in this two-hour lecture (illustrated with lists and a handful of scenarios), Arnall's conversational speaking style is entertaining, and most of her ideas are practical and bolstered by research. Highly recommended. Aud: P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)