EDITOR’S NOTE

HERE AT REAL SIMPLE, we talk a fairamount about controllingthecontrollables.Althoughitmight notalwaysfeel thisway, yourlifeisfullofthings youcancontrol:your sock drawer,your kitchen cabinets,yourskin-careroutine, yourdinnermenu.

Andthentherearethethingsyou can’tcontrol.Speakingfromexperience, Ican saysome arebenign andmildly irritating(traffic),some arebenign andquiteinconvenient (dog sprayed by askunk),andsome aregenuinelyscary. I’m talking aboutour kids’virtuallives.As MelanieHempe,the founder ofFamilies ManagingMedia,saysinthismonth’s story“ParentingAgainst theInternet” (page 156), the smalleryour kid’s screen, themoreyoulose control.

I have threechildren,whorange in age from 9to 21,and mybiggest parenting challenge is knowingwhen to get involvedandwhen tolet go. Particularlywhenitcomes tomy boys’ livesonline.Mynine-year-old iseasy:He only uses thekitchen computer,andonlywhen anadult isinthe room.Sowearealways lookingoverhisshoulder,literally. Asformytwo college-age sons, though,theycouldbetextingwith VladimirPutin forall Iknowabout what’s happening onthatmagical device that fitsperfectlyintheyoung adultpalm. It feelslikeI’mplaying pin thetailonthe donkey, except

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thatinadditionto being blindfolded, I haveboth handstiedbehind my back andthedonkey is a SnapchatimagethatdisappearsbeforeI cancatch a glimpse.

I’m surethere aremanyofyouwho know how I feel.Whenitcomesto theInternet andyourkids, thereisdangerthat’s both real andimagined.And sometimes it’sveryhardto separatethose two.

Which is exactlywhatwe setouttodo inGenevieveField’s excellentstory, by identifying three ofthebiggestthreats to kidsonline,andhow to fight them.Iwouldlike tosaythatthearticle made me feelrelieved, butthat’sonlypartly true— myblindfoldedjourney isn’t over. If,like me,you want moreinformation, tryone of the following:

Everythingyouneed to know about parentalcontrols,thebest age-appropriategamesand apps, andotherstrategiesforkeeping kidssafeonline.

Practicalsolutionstohelpyou replacescreentimewithfun, family-centricactivities.

Want to combatacyber-bully? Teachyourkids howtostaysafe while playingPokémonGo? TheFamilyOnline Safety Institute publishes thoughtful,up-to-theminuteadvice.

Eye-openingresearchandparenting ideas fromDevorah Heitner,Ph.D., theauthorof Screenwise: Helping KidsThrive(and Survive)inTheir DigitalWorld.

The science behindwhyyourteen looksat porn,how this“supernormal stimulus” is affectinghisbrain, andwhatyou candoto helphim (or her!) reboot.

And, finally,astough as itis,avoid shamingyour kids.Aswith somany other timesinlife,whenyou’re dealingwith theirscreen-sizeinterests, it’s amazingwhat a little acceptancecando.

ON PAGE 176, you’ll find a monthlong meal plan to help control another controllable (in other words, the crazy month of September). What’s even better? All of the recipes—plus shopping lists—are featured on our lifesaving calendar app, Cozi. You can download it from the Apple App Store and Google Play.