Who are the people that make up your “family?” Do you include only blood relatives only or do you include family friends into this category too? The word “family” has come to mean so many different things and as such, the technology needs of a family vary just as much.

What hasn’t changed is the need and desire to stay connected to these important people.

In the next installment of RedBoard’s #TalkingFamilies series, we asked @KatiaMillar of Positive Fabulous Women to provide us with some insight into her family life and how they use technology. We’ll be setting her family up with smartphones and a family plan and in the meantime, we’ve asked her to answer some questions for us about how her and her family use technology. In return, we’ve made a donation to a charity of her choice. Here’s what she had to say about technology and her family:

What factors should parents consider when deciding if their children are old enough for cell phones? Were these difficult decisions in your own family?

My children had cell phones by grade 6 or 7 – because I wanted a way to keep in touch with them during the after-school program. I wouldn’t say it was a difficult decision, but it’s still not one that I took very lightly. I think it really depends on the child and the needs of the family. Obviously, if a child had to take public transit or walk to school, then it might be a good idea to have a way to stay in touch with a parent. Also, we have to assess where each child is at and if we can trust him/her to show responsibility looking after the phone and making sure it’s not lost. Children need to be aware that it’s a privilege to own a cell phone, and they have to be ready to handle that responsibility.

What can parents do to ensure their kids’ use of cell phones doesn’t interfere with family life?

I would love to say that it doesn’t disrupt our family life, but I’d be lying. As kids get older, it becomes increasingly harder to set boundaries and stick to them. I am a bit more relaxed about those rules now than I used to be, partly because I’m guilty at times myself. However, I think it’s critical for parents to set some limits around usage – eg. no phone at the dinner table. Unfortunately, it’s easier said than done. As a parent of two teenage boys, I have to pick my battles – so I choose to let that one go sometimes and focus on bigger more critical issues around life and school.

What do you consider to be biggest benefit/biggest disadvantage of a connected family?

The #1 benefit of a connected family is that we keep in touch easily. For me personally, I appreciate that I am able to stay in the loop of what’s happening in my kids’ lives even when they’re away from home. They know I’m “there” if they have a question or need anything. As children enter their teen years, sometimes the verbal communication is a challenge, so it’s great to have other means to stay in touch. The challenge is the constant interruption, as they’re often more interested in playing with their phones than having a conversation. It’s particularly frustrating when we’re out at a restaurant or with family, and they just retreat to their phones than trying to make human connection – so it’s an ongoing struggle to get them to put their phones away and be present.

How do you use your smartphone/cellphone to stay connected to your family?

One word: Texting. We have a 2-household family, so having a convenient tool to stay connected when they’re with their Dad is very helpful for us. When the kids are out with friends, I know I can check in with them any time. They will often text me if they’re late or need something, so it’s a fantastic tool for us to manage our daily needs and expectations. Yes, I have even texted my kids if they’re in their rooms to call them down for dinner – works much better than yelling!

Does having access to the internet and cell phones make family life different for your current family compared with the family in which you grew up?

Does it ever! Children these days don’t go outside nearly as much as we did to socialize and interact with their peers. They value their online friends almost as much as their school friends. What that means for parents, especially as the kids get older, is that it’s harder to bring them into our world as we’re constantly competing for their attention with the next incoming text. Smartphones can create an added challenge as they provide a portable escape from the world with games, internet access, etc.

Speaking of keeping in touch with friends and family, check out our most recent Rogers Innovation Report where we look at how Canadian technology users connect to family and friends.

What’s your favourite method to keeping in touch with your family?

Melanie is a regular contributor to RedBoard