Parents: It is loving to set limits around your kids' access to technology

According to a study the by Microsoft Corporation, the average human attention span has dropped from 12 seconds in 2002 to only eight seconds in 2013. This new number is one second shorter than a goldfish, which is supposedly 9 seconds.

How do we manage this social media world? Technology is a stranger in the hands of your kids. What age is your child able to handle this “stranger” in your home? Technology wants to accompany them at all hours and go with them to the bathroom, their bedroom, at the dinner table, outside, in the car and it is awake when you are asleep.

It is best to start intervening in your child's social media world early. Get them accustomed to you lovingly having access to their phone. A basket during meals is a good idea. Phone curfews are wise. It is challenging, but not impossible, to set guidelines at a later date. After all, you do pay the bill. If the student resists and the device isn't easily handed over, texting privileges are removed for a season.

Encourage your kids to avoid posting pictures in bedrooms, bathrooms, of school or school uniforms, and house numbers. Implore them to wait to post pictures after an event and to avoid sharing copyrighted material.

Remember, this is motivated by love, not a legalistic regime. Over time, students should be given more freedom, as they demonstrate maturity.

Parenting is not for the faint of heart. It's important to give yourself lots of grace as a Mom or Dad. Don’t beat yourself up if you have allowed too much technology to dominate your parenting.

Tracy Levinson's hope is that parents will be encouraged and inspired to take on this wild horse of technology and tame it for their individual families, with the Lord’s inspiration and strength.  Her full interview with Pastor Jon Brooks, a conversation between two educators who are passionate in encouraging parents raising the next generation, is headed to TheBlaze soon.

To see more from Tracy, visit her channel on TheBlaze.