Horseshoes & Hand Grenades

In general, luck has nothing to do with it.

  • Home
  • About Me
    • PR & Disclosure
  • Food
  • Things I Like
  • A Beautiful Disaster
  • From The Rally Point
  • Holiday Gift Guide

Back To School In A High Tech World

August 23, 2016 by Alison 10 Comments

Thank you to U.S. Cellular for allowing me to be a member of their Blogger Brigade. All opinions are 100% my own. Take a look at this Parent-Child Agreement if you’re looking to set some ground rules for cellular use within your family.

 

My son goes back to school next Monday. He’ll be starting his Freshman year in high school…High School people!!! I consider myself to be pretty current on technology, but it’s absolutely unreal how much things have changed since I was in high school. We have Freshman orientation later this week and one of the things on the agenda is the schools policy on tablets because each student is issued their own device. That’s how they access their textbooks and other learning resources as well as complete a lot of their homework. Gone are the days of ginormous text books – now it’s all on one little mobile device. Can you imagine just having to tote around your Samsung Galaxy Tab instead of six different 20 pound books?! (I’m sure the backs of all our children are thanking the school district for this decision!) What that means for parents though is that we also have to be somewhat up to speed on current devices and applications as well and there are quite a few out there.

 

 

I think overall though, it’s a good thing.  The combination of powerful, easy-to-use mobile devices and tablets along with a reliable network such as U.S. Cellular’s high-quality network with nationwide coverage gives kids access to information that they need for school and if used property, it can also give parents peace of mind. Living in a rural community I definitely feel more at ease with my son being home or even hanging out with his friends when I know contact is just a text or phone call away – for either one of us.  The learning experience for students is evolving as more schools, like ours, are opting for electronic textbooks and adopting technology like tablets and smartphones as learning tools and I personally think that there are a lot of benefits to that like making it easier to get homework assignments, stay on top of studies and get input from school administrators and teachers. I’m all for anything that helps me keep better tabs on my kiddo.

 

 

Networks like U.S. Cellular’s high-speed network can also connect these students and teachers to all the information they need to excel in school, even if they are not in the classroom. I mean how many times has your child come home and realized they forgot the paper they needed to get their homework done — all the time over here!! Now, that won’t be a legitimate excuse and I think that’s great. My biggest concern as a parent is making sure I can help this transition for my kiddo and this new way of doing things goes as smoothly as possible.

 

BTS US Cellular

 

Just like when we got him his first cell phone, we want this to be viewed as a positive change, but we also want to reinforce responsibility for this new device. I think  it’s helpful to establish parameters, and the key is making sure both parents and children see eye-to-eye on how the devices are to be used and what is not acceptable.  To make this process as easy as possible for both parents and kids, U.S. Cellular recommends that families work together on guidelines for mobile device usage to ensure that children are using their phones and tablets responsibly, courteously and safely. The U.S. Cellular created the Parent-Child Agreement is an amazing tool to help get that conversation started. It provides customization suggestions on safety and etiquette and shows how technology can enhance time spent together as a family. It is designed so that each family can choose the guidelines that fit their specific needs which is important because there’s no one size fits all when it comes to family dynamics.

 

 

If your child is receiving their first device as they head back to school this year, make sure to take the time to set up your child’s phone to ensure they only have access to phone features and apps that are appropriate for their age. There are apps available that help parents monitor their child’s mobile web usage and allow parents to block certain websites and restrict the downloading of applications which really helps set your mind at ease as everyone adjusts to this new parent-child-device relationship.

 

 

If you’re an extra lucky mom or pop this year, you just might have a new teenage drivers on the road with the start of the new school year.  (Thank goodness I’ve still got another year or so to go before that happens…I just don’t think I could take all the excitement at one time!) Even with the most responsible teens, driving and the freedom that comes with it, it’s a major milestone,but parent’s U.S. Cellular is thinking about you too and that Parent-Child Agreement that I mentioned earlier, works great as a responsibility contract between you and our teen! If that’s not quite enough though to put your mind at ease, you might want to take a look at U.S. Cellular’s Vehicle Monitoring System , a device that can be installed in your teen’s car and allows parents to use the app on their 4G LTE iPhone 6, Samsung Galaxy S7 or any tablet, to check a vehicle’s location on a map, as well as decipher engine codes to be aware of any mechanical issues. You’ll know where your teenager is at any time of day, and whether the car needs servicing like an oil change.

 

See…technology isn’t bad at all! How will you be using technology to get your family back to school this fall? Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!

 

Filed Under: Helpful Hints, Kids, Technology & Gadgets Tagged With: Apps, Cell Phones, mobile devices, tablets

Comments

  1. Jelli says

    August 29, 2016 at 1:01 pm

    Gosh, I don’t think I’m ready to be done with school books. Sure, they were heavy and awkward and often forgotten in my high school locker, but there’s just something about flipping through the pages that I’ll miss if my kids ever go to a techie school. Congratulations on making it to the HS mothering stage. I’ve heard it’s great! Enjoy this fresh new chapter in your lives!

    Reply
  2. dana vento says

    August 29, 2016 at 4:27 pm

    I love that my kids are going back to high school high tech it keeps their world real and it keeps them pushing forward on the learning curve. I don’t like that we have pay insurance for the devices, I feel that is part of public school’s duty, but I guess I am wrong there.
    That Parent Child agreement is really great and I have to look into this as I have teens on the road.

    Reply
  3. Jaime Nicole says

    August 29, 2016 at 5:30 pm

    I really love the idea of a Parent Child Agreement. I am definitely going to check into this for my daughter. I do get tired of arguing with her over when she can use her technology, when to turn if off, content, etc. I think this would cut down on arguments.

    Reply
  4. Gwendolyn Mulholland says

    August 29, 2016 at 9:43 pm

    We homeschool and our curriculum is online. It is nice the advantages that technology has to offer but we have to be mindful of how it is used. My daughter has had a phone for a while now and we have rules that she must follow.

    Reply
  5. Kristy @ Mommy Hates Cooking says

    August 30, 2016 at 7:27 am

    My kids are still young so thankfully I have a few more years before I need to think about getting them phones or tablets for their school supplies. Technology is so wonderful and can be such a great tool for our children. I love the parent-child agreement!

    Reply
  6. Jennifer S says

    August 30, 2016 at 9:41 am

    I don’t have any kids to get back to school, but I did purchase my niece an ipad to help her with her homework. I am officially the BEST AUNT EVER! And I don’t mind that title one bit. LOL.

    Reply
  7. Bites for Foodies says

    August 31, 2016 at 3:19 am

    I have a love/hate relationship with technology. It worries me that kids these days are growing up in a society which completely revolves around technology, whereas when I was younger we didn’t have much technology. My generation had good foundations in terms of relationships when we were growing up…it’s not so much the case now.

    Reply
  8. Kira T says

    August 31, 2016 at 5:36 am

    My son is starting kindergarten tomorrow and I’m amazed at the difference in classroom technology. The teacher implements all kinds of technology now to teach and I think it’s great. I wish my son was old enough for a cell phone. I would love to have a way to keep in touch but that’s just mom anxiety lol.

    Reply
  9. aly mashrah says

    August 31, 2016 at 7:48 pm

    I definitely think it can be both a blessing and a curse at times. It’s all about how you manage it, I think. This season we will be using less technology and spending more time reading physical books.

    Reply
  10. paula schuck says

    September 2, 2016 at 5:58 am

    Tech is definitely not bad at all. We use tech to stay in touch and we use it for the kid’s school assignments a lot. One daughter takes photographs of the board so she doesn’t miss assignments. That is written into her IEP. I love that tech actually opens up and makes some things MORE accessible for people with differences and for children. It is challenging at times but it helps me stay in touch with my daughters and that is a good thing. I need to look at getting a cell for my second child.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Get Paid to Shop!!! Sign up now!

Ebates Coupons and Cash Back

About Me

My name is Alison. My favorite color is glitter. I love tattoos and finding ways to simplify life. Life with my husband, two children, five dogs, three cats, and lots of miniature horses is never boring but I still find the time to advocate for brands that I love and share my life, helpful hints, and a laugh or two with my amazing fans! Read More…

Categories

Beauty Blogging Blog Hops & Linky Parties Business Community Service & Charities Contests Disney DIY Entertainment Family Fashion Gift Guide 2014 Gift Guide 2015 Gift Guide 2016 Gift Guide 2017 Gift Guide 2018 Giveaways Healthy Living Helpful Hints Holidays Humor Kids My Life Chronicles Organization Pets Product Reviews Psychology Rally Point Rants, Raves, Reviews Recipes Saving $$ Survival Technology & Gadgets Travel Uncategorized Weight Loss
Follow on Bloglovin

What’s Next?

August 2016
M T W T F S S
« Jul   Sep »
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  

My Recent Pins

Follow Me on Pinterest 
My Pinterest Badge by: Jafaloo. For Support visit: My Pinterest Badge

More Awesome Stuff!

A Home Checklist For The Expectant Parent

When you are expecting a baby, there are so many … [Read More...]

Birthday Party Crafts Made Easy

My daughter is turning four. Yes I said four! I … [Read More...]

Why Owning A Dog Can Be Good For You

Getting a dog can be good for all kinds of … [Read More...]

How To Start A Freshwater Aquarium #APIFish

This post is sponsored by MARS Fishcare and the … [Read More...]

Tweets by @Jewell5022
Mom It Forward: Blogger Network
SoFab Badge
Everywhere

Copyright © 2025 · Lifestyle Pro Child Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in