Managing Music

What you can do

Stress the importance of buying music legally. Have continual conversations with your children about how consuming pirated music is both unethical and illegal. In addition, make sure you are a good role model for your children. You can’t expect your children to refrain from downloading music illegally if they see you doing it.


Make it easy for your child to buy music legally.

There are many online music stores where your children can explore and experiment as their tastes in music change and grow. To make sure your children are exploring in a legal way, consider creating a family account with an online music retailer and using songs as rewards for good behavior and grades.


Share music with your child.

Trade favorite CDs with your child, and be aware of what you are listening to. Try to figure out why your children enjoy the music they listen to; don’t be afraid to ask them if you simply don’t understand. Likewise, talk to your children about the music that you like and the songs that hold important memories for you.


Establish a Media Use Contract with each child in your family.

It is important that you have a conversation with each child to set rules and limits that are appropriate for him or her. In your conversation, be explicit about how you intend to monitor your child’s music consumption and what the consequences will be if the contract is broken. Once the contracts have been signed, post them in a prominent place in your home as a reminder.