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Can You Hear Me Now?

 

Grab

Money

Car keys

Go

At some point you may decide your daughter is ready to take on the responsibility of her own electronic device. How long has she been begging you for her own MP3 player, cell phone, or handheld video game? Today is the day you make her wish come true!

Prior to your date, shop current sales flyers or internet ads to find out who is carrying the item you have in mind at a price you can live with. Make some calls to confirm that the store you’re visiting has the item in stock. Shopping holiday sales or club stores can land you a bundle deal where an extra game or accessory is included in the price.

Have your daughter bring along some of her allowance or birthday money if she’d like to shop for a game or carrying case for her new device.

Once she’s made her selection, grab a soda or ice cream together. Help her program phone numbers into her cell phone’s contact list, download some favorite songs into her MP3 player, or set up her handheld game system. Take some time to talk through the following ideas together.

Grow

Electronics can be a blessing and a trial. They can bring fun and convenience, but can also drain a lot of time and attention from more important things. Now is a great time to make your expectations clear.

For a cell phone, talk through these concerns:

What are your texting plan limits, if any?

What happens if her phone is lost?

What time should her phone be powered off at night?

For an MP3 player, talk through these issues:

Will she have her own online music service to sync her device with?

Are there any artists or musical genres that are off-limits?

What are your rules concerning ear buds and protecting her hearing? (See the articles regarding headphones at www.healthychildren.org for recommendations.)

Are there any other limits, such as no music at the dinner table, etc.?

For a video game, make your expectations clear:

What game ratings are acceptable for your family?

How many minutes of game play is she allowed per day?

Is she required to finish her homework and chores before she plays?

What safety tips are important for her to follow? (Check out the kids’ video game safety articles on www.childdevelopmentinfo.com.)

For whatever item your daughter selected, make sure you know her school’s rules regarding what she is allowed to use on campus and when.

Entrusting your daughter with a new electronic device can be a way to affirm her level of responsibility and maturity. It is also a way to teach simple cause and effect—if she manages her time and usage well she has the reward of using it. If not, she loses the privilege. Ultimately, it gives her the opportunity to learn faithfulness. God desires that she grow to be a girl of her word, one who is faithful to respect the value of her possessions and use them in a way that is pleasing to you and her heavenly Father.

Read about the servant’s example in Matthew 25:21:

His master replied, “Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.” (GW)

Dear Father,

Thank you for blessing my daughter with this fun gift today. Please allow it to help her connect with others in new, special ways. Give her the strength to manage her time with it well. Give her a heart that desires to obey by staying within the limits we’ve placed around her. Please protect her heart from any pride or selfishness that can come from making our possessions too important. May she look at this day and this new gift as coming from your hand and give you all the thanks. Amen!