In a world full of technology, keeping a close-knit family is a difficult, daunting task”or so newspapers would have you believe, citing stories of the extremists who managed to rebuild their family by simply pulling the plug and entering the Dark Ages. In reality, when used correctly, technology can be one of the building blocks that brings your family together rather than the force tearing it apart.

Cell phones and texting are the bane of many parents’ existence. It seems like teenagers and pre-teens are eternally connected to their friends by the umbilical cord that is their phone, constantly typing away. But texting can also be a way for you to open lines of communication between your family. When children are away at camp or on a school trip, calling home can cause social stigma, but nobody can tell who they are texting. Children may also be more open to telling their parents things via text message because they don’t risk being overheard by their supervisors or peers.

iPods and other MP3 devices also seem like a barrier between parents and children when they really offer hidden opportunities that can help strengthen family bonds. Since many music environments offer the ability to share music within a home or wireless network, it is easy for parents to see what their children are listening to and try it themselves. Music is a vehicle for communication and can help open the doors for tough conversations about sex, drugs, alcohol, or social issues that your child might be facing.

When dealing with children and teenagers, one of the easiest ways to alienate them is to cut them off from the things they feel are most important to their generation. Conversely, one of the easiest ways to enhance communication with children and teens is to accept their generational quirks. Technology can either help or harm your family relationship; use it to your advantage!Take a look here to learn more: How parents can handle teenagers’ texting frenzy