My son who is going to be 11 this October, has suddenly changed his email account password lately. When I asked him why, he asked me back why I checked his emails. And he said he doesn't like his emails to be checked.

It all started as a "kiddy" thing to create an email account for him when he was 6. We have been checking his emails all these while as a monitoring measure.

Now that he gave such explanation, what should we do? Is it an infringement of privacy to check his emails? But how do we monitor especially when he is at the age of growing up and being exposed to things that he is not supposed to?

Please enlighten. We are confused as to what to do with this issue.

I'm no expert but here are my personal feelings. It had to cut like a dagger through your heart when he said that but all kids deserve a little privacy. Just like some children have diaries or friends they tell secrets to, his meathod is email. If you've read his emails before and never had a reason to worry, then try to confort yourself with that. HOWEVER, if his computer is not in a public room of the house, move it to one! Yes, he deserves his privacy but no child should have full access to a computer with no parents around. Give him some space but also watch as well. He is a child and limitations come along with being a child. I think if you told him that you respect his privacy and no longer feel the need to monitor his emails, it will make him feel proud. But tell him that you expect him to act with a level of maturity and that he can come to you if there is ever a problem, it will make him feel less intruded on and allow him to feel he can come to you and you'll handle it maturly.