Getting the Balance Right

The idea of children and teenagers chatting online with cyber friends brings all kinds of concerns to mind. There are so many shady characters online and parents fear the kind of relationships in which their children are involved.

Many parents feel that online friendships are dangerous, but the young ones beg to differ. For some children and teens, making and maintaining online friendships are much easier than in real life.

In the modern world, most teenagers have access to the Internet. Most of them spend their time hanging around in chat rooms communicating with people they already know.

Communicating over the Internet has its benefits. When children and teens are stressed or unhappy, they go to popular sites - like Facebook - for comfort and support. They form a bond with their friends and learn to discuss personal issues openly.

The problem starts when too much time is spent in cyberworld. Parents have every right to be concerned when their children neglect schoolwork or other important events.

Children and teenagers need to know that life is full of responsibilities. While social development is important, mental, physical and spiritual development cannot be neglected. Learning to find balance in life is beneficial to happiness. There is a time to work and there is a time to play.

Get the balance right while you are young. Invest in a healthy and balanced future. Albert Einstein said, "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." There's no point in just sitting around texting. There is more to life than cyberworld.