Scary…
Parents, educators and researchers are grappling with similar concerns as text messaging has exploded across the formative years of the nation's youngest generation. Teens now do more texting on their cellphones than calling. And although it's too early for conclusive data on the effects of prolific texting -- on attention span, social life, writing ability, family connections -- questions abound, even as many experts point to clear benefits.
[…]
Nationally, more than 75 billion text messages are sent a month, and the most avid texters are 13 to 17, say researchers. Teens with cellphones average 2,272 text messages a month, compared with 203 calls, according to the Nielsen Co.
It's the job of parents to inject a touch of reality into the life of their children. That is what parents do. And, it the case of texting, they can try injecting a touch reality in the juvenile junk flowing across their kids' cellphones' screens.
ReplyDeleteCheck out WuduPlz (Would You Please) It is a new, free web service built to help parents teach teens and preteen cooperation, responsibility & commitment. OK...and to get them to what they are suppose to do around the house. (Never easy because, well, they're kids…) It uses text messaging--a proven 21st Century way to connect with kids.
Here's the link:
http://www.wuduPlz.com
Here's our YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd-8UcdNalU
Sure, as our web site says, it's easier and faster texting if you're at your computer. And, we've also provide a handy checklist of household chores to help you get some help.
But, to make it more useful, WuduPlz can also deliver messages LATER to provide useful reminders. With WuduPlz, each family member with a cellphone is carrying around a little alarm clock that Mom or Dad can set to go off with a little note. Very handy.
In making requests or just asking questions, pre-teens and teenagers should feel respected, not victimized, says Dr. Kenneth Ginsburg, adolescent medicine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, explaining that, “You want them to understand that the freedoms they get are directly related to how they demonstrate responsibility.” WuduPlz is designed to help parents teach this lesson. Respectfully--thus the name, WuduPlz.