Family Web Site Project
Is your teenager a computer geek? Does he or she spend every possible moment in front of the screen and carry a laptop everywhere they go-even to the point of ignoring the rest of the family? Then try having them participate in the family while on the computer! Have them start, or contribute to, a private family web site.
These sites are becoming more and more popular these days, and not just for the extended family. Nuclear families whose members all use computer throughout the day use them more and more for communication purposes and as a way to give family members a pat on the back. They are useful for many areas of family life.
My family has a page on FamilyMoment. We use it to post appointments and everything else. My teenage daughter puts her school activities on out family calender there. We put church functions, out of town visits, etc., on it. If one of us is at work and needs to check the family schedule, it’s only a few mouse clicks away.
We also have a message board. Rather than call me, my daughter can post a message if she wants to go to a friend’s house after school. I check the message board several times a day and answer her back. Or, if my fiance decides to work late, he can post a message to let me know. We can also post photos and do a family tree. It’s a great way of keeping up with each other’s schedules.
You can also start a site as a way of keeping up with extended family. It’s a great way to let family members know what each other are doing, and proud parents can post news of the kids. My daughter loves posting things to the extended family sites and so do other teenage members of our family. It can be a great school project-a family tree for a history class, e.g., or just a way of getting a teenager more involved in family life.
Of course, this is not a substitute for face-to-face participation in family activities. However, it can be a way to get a teenager involved by using something they like doing anyway. It’s also great if your teen is away at college! By posting pictures and messages, you can keep up with each other without running up the long-distance phone bill!
Ask your teen and other family members about participating today!
teens, teenagers, parents, parenting, family, family web sites, FamilyMoment
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