Living in a fast-paced, digital world, it is no secret that parents are concerned about the safety of their children. With apps such as Pinardin, offering features to let parents hear what is happening around their child, it truly seemed like the perfect tool to foster peace of mind. But what happens if the children are given the power to switch off this feature? Why would we allow it?
That may sound a little bit counterintuitive; after all, the very concept of parental control is to keep our children safe. But there’s more to this story, and it has to do with the delicate balance between keeping them safe and building trust.
So, let’s dive into why we allow kids to turn off Sound Around, and how it can actually be a healthy benefit in your relationship with your child—all while keeping them safe.
1. Respecting Your Child’s Personal Space
Now, try to imagine, if it were possible, someone listening in on your most private conversations. Is this unsettling? Okay, now put yourself in your child’s shoes: friendships, relationships, and attempts at establishing independence—sometimes it involves conversations they wouldn’t like their parents to overhear.
Children are protective of their privacy, especially teenagers. They want to be trusted and treated respectfully. You are showing them that respect when you allow them to turn off Sound Around. Many times, it’s the little things like these that will help in keeping a better relationship with your child.
That doesn’t mean they are concealing something awful; it’s about their need for privacy—just like adults do, kids need space to be themselves without always being watched.
2. Reduced Family Conflicts
To a parent, Sound Around means security. That’s how you know your child isn’t in harm’s way, that they are safe from bullying. You may even use it to learn who they are hanging out with. For a child, however, this is an invasion of privacy.
Teens at this age can be super sensitive to this form of control and, therefore, it may lead to arguments and resentment. In giving them this prerogative, you would minimize the chances of conflict. You are not compromising on safety but trying to keep lines open with your child.
3. Building Trust with Your Child
Permission to allow the kids to turn off Sound Around is one of the strong reasons—trust. Much is built into the relationship between parent and child on the basis of mutual trust and communication. If your child knows that you trust them enough to let them decide, they are most likely to be more candid and open with you too.
Instead of feeling like they’re constantly being watched, they’ll appreciate the trust you’re placing in them, which can lead to better communication and fewer secrets.
4. Anyhow, Kids Would Find Ways Around Control
Let’s face it: kids won’t be tracked when they don’t want to be tracked. They can “forget” their phone at home, make the sound really low, or “forget” to charge it. The more tightly controlled kids are made to feel, the more inventive they become at finding ways around those controls.
Giving them the choice to disconnect the Sound Around feature is a means of avoiding these avoidance tactics. It’s better to have partial control with your child’s cooperation rather than lose all control because they figured out how to trick the system.
How to Get Your Child to Keep Sound Around On
Now, if you’re concerned about your child constantly switching off Sound Around, here are tips to instigate cooperation.
Step 1: An Open, Honest Discussion
Let the relationship be based on mutual trust and understanding before even bringing up the feature of Sound Around. If there are some existing conflicts, it is better to iron those out first. A healthy parent-child relationship forms the very base for a reasonable discussion on safety features like Sound Around.
Step 2: Explain the Purpose of the Feature
Kids are more likely to cooperate if they understand why something is necessary. Explain that the Sound Around feature isn’t about spying but ensuring their safety. Make it clear that it gives you peace of mind knowing they’re safe, especially in unfamiliar or risky situations.
Step 3: Setting Boundaries Mutually
Discuss the terms of using the Sound Around feature with your child. Agree on when and why you’d turn it on. This could be during specific times, like when they’re out with friends late at night or when traveling. By setting these boundaries together, your child will feel more involved in the decision, making them less likely to switch it off impulsively.
Step 4: Offer Some Benefits
Sometimes a little quid pro quo can go a long way. Explain to them that keeping this feature on translates into fewer calls asking them where they are, fewer questions about their friends, and probably even more freedom since you won’t be as worried. Highlight the advantages of cooperation and trust.
What it all points to is that, ultimately, the Pinardin app, specifically its Sound Around feature, is meant to build peace of mind in parents and safety for the kids. But for this to actually work, it has to be done within the bounds of a relationship based on trust and communication.
It’s a good way of showing respect to your child by giving them the power to turn this feature off. This makes the family dynamic healthier and happier. And one good way to get them to leave it on when it really counts is simply building up trust.
