Wired Dads: 7 Tech Tips & Tricks for Dads

WIRED DADS: TECH TIPS & / TRICKS DADS Kids today have more access to technology than ever before. Nine in ten teens have access to a computer at home, and nearly 75% of 12-17 year-olds have mobile/tablet internet access.1 How do parents stay engaged with kids who are always "on?" Tech dads and DeVry University graduates Thomas Ruark, senior Computer Scientist Il at Adobe Systems, and Marty Martinez, Technical Services Director at Cisco Systems, share how technology helps them stay in touch and make family time more fun. 1 LET THE KIDS TAKE THE LEAD Kids are trendsetters. Once you're comfortable with the latest app, they've moved to the next. Be flexible and let your kids lead the way with technology to stay in touch, keeping you connected and in the know. JOIN THE FUN 2 If you can't beat 'em, join them. As your kids join social platforms like Instagram®, create your own accounts. Let them teach you, earn some "cool dad" points and keep an eye on their online activity. 3 WHEN IT BREAKS, TAKE A BREAK A Internet outage? Hard drive crash? When your modem goes down, consider letting the kids troubleshoot before saving the day. Use it as a teaching moment and work a solution together. SYNC FOR SANITY Communicating with your significant other is just as important 4 as connecting with your kids. Google CalendarTM syncs school schedules, meetings and extra-curricular activities. Consider other personal planning apps like MintTM and OpenTableTM. SMS TEXTING IS STILL COOL Flashy apps aside, texting is a great way to get in touch with busy 5 kids. Start a group text to stay connected in real-time, share photos, locations and dinner plans with one another. 6. FAMILY GAME NIGHT! Consider a gaming system like XBOX® or a multiplayer app for virtual competing. Many traditional board games have digital versions, like Mattel's UNO® and Friends and Monopoly®. Racing-themed games are popular among youngsters. POWER DOWN 7 Technology is great, but take time to power down. Establish “no tech zones" to engage in real conversations. The dinner table is a good place to start. For a family tech detox, consider booking a vacation with no access to internet. Imagine that! THOMAS RUARK Senior Computer Scientist II, Adobe Systems Thomas Ruark is a senior Computer Scientist Il at Adobe Systems, where he is an engineer for Photoshop@, one of the company's signature programs. He is a graduate of DeVry University and lives in San Jose, California, with his family. MARTY MARTINEZ Director, Technical Services, Cisco Systems Marty Martinez is Director of Technical Services at Cisco Systems. He has managed projects across many Cisco teams, including manufacturing, service supply chain, usability design and technical support engineering. He is a DeVry University graduate and resides with his family in Wake Forest, North Carolina. Instagram, Google Calendar, Mint, Open Table, Uno and Monopoly are trademarks owned be their respective owners - none of these owners endorses, sponsors, or supports DeVry University in any manner. DeVry V University 1. http://www.pewinternet.org/2013/03/13/teens-and-technology-2013/ c.org In New York, Devry University oy The Higher Learning Commission icck cafouncilef Kiher Education for Vieginia accredited by Devry University is operates as Devry College of New York.Devry is certified to operate by the S Devry University is authorized for operation by the THEC. www.state.tn.us/thec/. Nashville Campus - 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr. Nashville, TN 37211. Program availability varies by location. 02014 Devry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 7/14 Learn more at devry.edu