Switch, I am not offended at all. I understand your point of view and giving a certain amount of freedom. For some children that age and in their teens their computers are a way to socialize and explore, yes I can see that. What I did was provide my daughter with other ways to explore and also have mentors that were horse trainers and I brought her up from the beginning spending time with her every night reading to her, then we talked about the stories and that encouraged a connection of her being able to talk to me and ask questions etc.

My rules about the computer were a bit easier then it is now because computers are so small now and easier for children to have their own that is more portable. I didn't constrain my daughter, I provided her with other freedoms to fill the gaps and allow her to explore and gain some independance in other ways. And I did provide her with a very big activity that revolved around setting goals and achieving as well as learning how to accept failures and try again. And the activity, horse riding and showing forced her to have to learn how to communicate and engage others as well and be exposed to different mentor type individuals that were goal oriented people.
But I realize that what I did is not easy, I had to give up a lot so she could have this and she did know that as well.

I do realize that it can be hard for children these days and I did meet a lot of the friends my daughter had and they did not have the exposure she had and thier parents were not as involved with them either. My daughter also helped out other girls that had low self esteem whose parents didn't take time to relate with them and many filled that gap by coming to my home and sharing the horses/ponies with my daughter who helped them take more pride in themselves as well. But there was also a down side of plenty of girls at school that were jealous of my daughter and my daughter found it boring to simply sit and talk on the phone about nothing with many girls from school.

RomanSunburn, I hear you, it is a big challenge to raise children and guide them and protect them. Because of my own history I was somewhat hypervigillant over my daughter and I observed all the people she was exposed to as much as I could, And that included meeting all her teachers and I WAS asked why I came to see them as my daughter was doing fine in school. And my reply was "Because when my daughter talks about her teachers I want to know who is guiding and advising and spending time with her". I even did that when she went to college and I did tell teachers she had dislexia and how she learned as well.

Children are less apt to suffer abuse if a preditor knows a parent is watching and active with their child. I do know that while one of my daughter's teachers did cross a line with another student that was under age, because I did meet with him and showed I was a concerned parent, he didn't cross the line with MY daughter. The girl he did cross the line with did not have the care and connection with her parents so she was a prime candidate to be a victim.

It really IS a challenge raising a child now because they are exposed to so many adult messages about sexuality and in many ways they are exposed younger and younger too. And I am around a lot of young children, I see their clothes and they are getting more and more adult like as they have that more adult design that hints at the sexually appealing as well. No wonder why there are record numbers of depressed children and teens they are too overwhelmed in my opinion these days.

Seeker, I was wondering if these informative lectures about preditors etc are also attended by parents. I really think that it is very important that schools engage parents and become more connected to who the people are that are tending children outside the schools. Teachers are under so much pressure to produce children that are scholastically achieving on a higher level, but these teachers are not parents and cannot do much about what goes on in the family life of their students.

Seeker, I am sure for you this IS upsetting because you are personally involved with this child and in that alone, it can be a very personal upset. And this is your child in some ways too, one can't help but become emotionally invested with the students they work with day in and day out.

Open Eyes