"My husband and (especially) I are deeply uncomfortable with technology for kids. I worked in cybersecurity and have a no-screens policy for all my grandchildren (all of them are under 8 years old) when they're with me. I have a great relationship with all of them. When they're here, we play lots of games, do crafts, and do plenty of outside activities, like skiing."
"Jenny already has anxiety and is seeing a therapist. I think a smartwatch with messaging and other apps will make her anxiety worse, and I would like to tell Jenny's mom that. (Honestly, I don't think anyone in second grade needs a smart anything.) I'd also like to say outright that it would be hypocritical of me to buy Jenny a piece of tech when I maintain a no-screens policy."
A step-grandparent faces a request to buy an eight-year-old a smartwatch and worries the device will worsen the child's anxiety. The grandparent enforces a strict no-screens policy for visiting grandchildren and cites a cybersecurity background as part of that stance. Concerns include potential tracking by the mother, hypocrisy in breaking the no-screens rule, and the belief that second graders do not need smart devices. The situation requires setting a clear boundary, communicating concerns briefly and nonjudgmentally, and offering alternative gifts or safety solutions that do not introduce messaging apps or constant connectivity.
Read at Slate Magazine
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