Kids2Parents @@ lol #yeahrightnevergonnahappen

When I was a kid, I walked barefoot 10 miles uphill each way in the snow to and from school. Took 8 hours.

Today's kids spend 8 hours a day texting, tweeting, tuning a TV, or typing on a tablet. That's if they are age 10 or younger.

Older than that, it's 11 hours a day. That's a lot of trudging -- with fingers.

It is a different world.

The consequences can be rocky: behavioral problems, poor in-person social skills, poor school performance, cyberbullying, sleep problems, sneakiness -- everything under the sun. (No, this isn't about Congress.)

Then again, not all social media and computer work is evil -- and whatever you think of it all, this is the new world of technology and parenting -- there is no going back.

So the American Academy of Pediatrics has developed some guidelines for parents to work with their kids on a so-called "media diet," so kids don't OD with their smart-technology.

Their recommendations:

No computers, TVs, or smartphones in the bedroom.

Media curfew at 9 p.m.

Tablets and phones take a hike at dinner.

And parental involvement. Meaning that you are a parent, not your kid's BFF.

Monitor texting, Facebook, Twitter ... and have regular discussions on what's going on with your kid's use of media.

Any issues, problems, stalking, bullying? Be approachable. Be an involved parent.

Here's a nice link: healthychildren.org/.../How-to-Make-a-Family-Media-Use-Plan.aspx