Kids and technology

I'm all for teaching my children about technology and it's pros and cons. I believe they need to learn this at a young age. After all, three years ago when my daughter first entered preschool, I was told it was the last year they were going to be learning mouse (as in computer mouses, mice...however you pluralize this word) skills. My 2-1/2-year-old was learning a skill I didn't learn until late high school or college - and it was now becoming extinct! Technology is ever-changing and our children will learn it either from me or someone else...I definitely prefer they learn it from me.

But, in teaching my children about technology, I've learned of a downside that isn't as bad as social media bullying or strengthening kid lock programs to keep young minds away from online pornography and other graphic websites. It also isn't nearly as destructive as my toddler taking apart my toaster just to "see what's inside." To me, this downside is simply a nuisance that is causing me hours of wasted time going through my phone and computer.

This nuisance is my children's use of my cell phone camera. This is because I end up with hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures like this...

I then spend hours going through both my phone and Dropbox to get rid of these unwanted, and often times extremely unflattering (at least when pictures of me), photos. After all, just how many pictures do I need of me sleeping (Should I be happy she's finally leaned not to wake me up until 7am??) or a giant whisk???

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