My teen sons have taken up skateboarding. Let me think of the nicest manner to say this:
It exposed them to kids who are latch-key, unsupervised, and dropping out of school (they are skating on the streets and at the skate parks too). My kids have been home schooled/private schooled. This interaction with the street kids has caused social networking through texts, My Space and parks. Some have offered my kids pot, beer and sex. My sons say they have never done it.
I never monitored MS personally. I spent a day looking at their "friends list" and was very disappointed at what I saw these street kids saying and doing and Posting it on the WWW. DH and I made our sons delete their accounts. But this networking is far reaching. With this said, what have you found that works to help your PK's make good choices of friends? How do you monitor texting or internet? What criteria do you use for your kids in accepting friends on My space?
My firstborn is the most strong-willed. He's 17 and he refuses to break these ties with the wrong crowd. There are so many of them that it's very hard to keep tabs (perfectly). He has broke our trust with lying and secrecy and I don't know if I can believe him when he says that he's never "tried" things these friends have suggested. But I can't convince him that he needs to distance himself from those type of people (i.e. curse words, sex, drinking, etc.) Any wisdom for me ladies?
Any advice is cherished. I am concerned for the 2nd born son since they are so close (2yrs between).
