Why is it that kids seem to find these things, and get around all the safeguards we set, while we never even imagined it was possible? The issue is, like many people, we assume others look at things the same way we do. It’s hard to see the world from someone else’s perspective. But when it comes to protecting our children, we must learn to see things through their perspective.

As one parenting book put it, “Adults look at a new device or app and ask themselves, ‘What can this do for me?’ Kids look at that same device or app and ask, ‘What can this thing do?’”

Kids are curious, sometimes mischievous—and that’s a good thing. We want our children to discover and explore; they’re hard-wired for it. But part of parenting is understanding our children through their own eyes, so we can guide them toward what’s meaningful, safe, and conducive to real growth.