Your kids and Facebook

"It's not fair", "but my friends have one", "your so boring" were just some of the statements made by my tween when discussing why she cannot have a Facebook account.
I guess I knew that when you have kids they eventually get to 'that' stage where they want to be grown ups and in this day and age its happening at younger ages.
My daughter is almost 12 and having started secondary school this September I've slowly but surely noticed changes in what she wants to do and how she behaves. Whilst many of her arguments with me are well thought out and very diplomatic, I usually still manage to get her to understand why I am the way I am with her and why I make the decisions I do with her. Compared to some parents I know and some of her friends parents I know I'm not necessarily as liberal as them but I think that our children are children and there will be plenty of time to be adults.

I tried explaining to her that all Facebook users need to be at least 13 years of age and there's obviously a reason for this to which she replied "what?" Before I could answer the clearly rhetorical question she replied by reeling of a comprehensive list of internet safety and security measures and the benefits of the privacy options Facebook offers.
It was also suggested that if I would be a wonderful parent and let her open a Facebook account then she would 'allow' me to have the password giving me full access to what she's up to. Her extremely mature and concise debate doubled with the fact that she had actually come and asked me if she could have a Facebook account instead of just opening one almost made me cave in. In asking me if she could have an account she is showing a level of responsibility that a lot kids her age wouldn't.
I know many of her friends already have Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram accounts but rightly or wrongly I just feel there's something sinister about letting our children have access to all of this so young.

Even though I have a Facebook account myself I don't see what the fascination for her with having one is. I admittedly feel horrible and unreasonable for not allowing her to have one but I want to protect her from the world as much as possible!

Am I being unreasonable? Have you allowed your child to open a Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter or Instagram account?
What are your thoughts on children using social media. 

M xx

Our New Art Installation!

So now I'm a fully converted Pinterest addict, I have trawled the site for things to keep the kids occupied this summer that aren't going to bankrupt me.

One particular craft project that caught my eye was some canvas prints of a family tree. I pinned it knowing that I could play around with it to make it something the kids could do.

Abandoned one afternoon by the older 2, I asked the 4 year old what he would like to do "paint something" was his reply! I saw this as my opportunity to try out said craft project. We popped into town and grabbed 4 canvases from the poundshop so we could 'paint something'.

We rummaged around in the cupboards to find some poster paints and paint brushes that I just knew we're hiding somewhere(leaving a trail of mess behind us!) and off we went.

We painted 2 of the white canvases black and left them to dry. Whilst they were drying the little one painted on of his hands black and printed it onto one of the white canvases and we did the same with Daddy's hand(and arm and belly and t-shirt...you get the picture!)

Once the now black canvases were dried I painted Big Sam and Baby Sam's hands white and we repeated the printing process.

Now we have a gorgeous new art installation up that everyone loves and cost just £4!

                                 M xx

Pinterest!

Just a quickie from me today. For some time I've avoided Pinterest by choice but after recently looking for something quite specific and trusty google not being able to help I decided to temporarily sign up to Pinterest to see if it could help.......I'm hooked!!

Not a day goes by that I can resist having  a quick looksee at what delights may interest me. 

If your around, check out what has caught my eye, I'm ramblingmumof3, see you on the other side!

                              M xx