Today, all parents know that their kids’ lives in regards to the use of technology are going to be dramatically different than their own. This has become one of the most obsessed about topics for parents because we are in need of providing guidance and counseling in an area where their kids often know more than they do! This is not easy to do… I get that. However, there are more and more resources available to you, and I want to tell you about a new one.

I’ve previously introduced you to Vanessa Van Petten, the LA-based 23 year old who writes for teens and their parents. She’s recently released an e-book titled The Dirt-E Secrets of an Internet Kid (downloadable for $10) that is designed to give parents a leg-up on understanding and guiding their teens’ activities online. Vanessa has included many links to popular websites for tweens and teens, as well as definitions, guidelines and good ideas.

Vanessa suggests that some of the advice experts pass along to parents is inadequate and misleading. She takes aim at guidelines like Keep the computer in a public room; Know your kid’s passwords; and Ask your kids to see their profile, then look at it with them. She claims parents are kidding themselves if they think these strategies don’t have simple work-arounds for teens. (While I imagine most parents are aware of this, I wouldn’t suggest you abandon these approaches.)

She guides parents to engage in a “Cyber-Citizenship Talk.” Likened to the “drug talk” and the “sex talk”, she urges parents to sit down and have the “internet talk.” Her guidelines for this talk have off-line counterparts like “always wear clothes,” “beware of strangers,” “do not litter,” and “treat others with respect.” And she provides a video where she likens the internet to a public park, suggesting that this good-sense approach will work with your teen.

One area that concerns many parents is the way bullying has evolved in this internet and mobile-based world. Vanessa characterizes this by saying “the internet has changed the playground-bully into the in-my-bedroom-bully,” and brings to the forefront the challenges kids face because of this. If you don’t have this first-hand knowledge already, this segment will give you tremendous appreciation for your kids’ world view in regards to the intersection of their social life and their internet life.

Vanessa, in her typical high-energy way, gives parents some helpful tools here, and my hat goes off to her for a great effort.

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