There are three main principles you want to stress to your teens to eliminate poor habits related to texting: timing, quality and purpose. Once your teens understand the significance of these principles, they will appreciate these tips. It will help them balance their time, allow them to get their message across, and encourage them to be considerate of others.
We have all experienced this. We're talking with our teen, the phone chimes with an incoming text message. Our conversation is lost. They are on to the next thing, a text which in their mind requires their immediate attention and perhaps an immediate response. As parents, we recognize that this technology is important to all, and it has taken on a life of its own with our teens. It has become their primary tool for communicating and is supported by the social significance of always being accessible.
First, ask your teen to think about their texting habits. Are they quick to text a comment or reply? Are they texting impulsively? If so, is the text really appropriate? Here are some guidelines to help you talk to them to make that determination.
1. There is a time and place for texting.
There is always a time and place for texting; not anytime and anyplace. Everyone should know never to text while driving. Even the best of drivers cannot multi-task driving and texting. Accidents happen in split seconds. Studies show that texting while driving is a major cause of accidents. And texting while driving is not only dangerous, but very stupid.
Texting while working is totally unacceptable, especially if you are being paid by the hour. It shows that you are shirking your duties, probably distracted and certainly not paying full attention to your customer. Wait until you are on break and go to a secluded place to text.
There should be no texting in church or other spiritual gathering. You don't want to miss their blessings.
2. Texting is for brief succinct quality messages.
Remind you teen of the purpose of text messaging; to communicate a brief and succinct message. The universal technology for texting includes 140 characters per text. Text messaging is intended to be a short comment, succinct and specific. While adults are finally catching on, teens have been texting for what could possibly be an entire generation. They developed a new language to allow them to fit the content into the body of the text without it being truncated. Since then technology has improved. Most devices allow for the full message to roll into multiple texts effectively defeating the original purpose. The rule of thumb should remain no more than 140 characters or use email or phone call instead of a text.
3. Be considerate and purposeful.
Teens must consider how the content of their text will affect others. Tap into their compassion and remind them that they don't want to offend anyone via text. For example texting should not be used for breaking up with someone. Teens hide behind the tool to reduce the person to person, face to face communication. Everyone deserves to be treated with kindness. It is almost never appropriate conduct to text about relationships, major life events or critical issues between you and the recipient. The message invariable comes off as flippant.
Remind them to slow down and read each word carefully before sending the text. With predictive text technology, they may be sending words or phrases they had no intention of sending.
Encourage your teens to spend face time with each other. There is no better way to really get to know their friends. Everyone can be a friend to someone without alienating anyone. It's rude to text other friends while you are with friends unless the objective is to include that person in the gathering or conversation. On the other hand, remind your teen to remain engaged in the real world with the real people they are with. And be in the moment.
Finally, never text while you are angry or upset.
In general, texting is a valuable communication tool, but used haphazardly without regard to basic etiquette, it becomes a bad habit that indicates poor social graces. Participate with your teen by using these tips when texting to them. Then encourage them to set the example for their peers.
Karen Anise enjoys sharing her commonsensical knowledge about current topics recognizing that her subject matter comes from practical experience in various environments. She is committed to sharing her thoughts on these topics to encourage people to be deliberate in all aspects of living peacefully.
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