Most parents consider online reporting of their kids’ grades and school attendance a good thing. Depending on how parents use the information, though, the constant immediate feedback can break down boundaries that are important to their children maturing and taking on personal responsibilities.

Electronic feedback can enhance communication between parents and teachers by providing results of daily assignments, exams and projects, but kids often find it to be extremely intrusive. This is especially true when parents don’t give them a chance to handle a problem or challenge on their own.

Electronic feedback on academic performance is a valuable tool, but parents should also take into account the transitions that adolescents are going through as they struggle to find their own identity. Ellen deLara, an adolescence specialist at Syracuse University, says students are inventing themselves, trying out different ways of being in the world and even how to present bad news to parents.

Technology is giving parents the opportunity to micromanage their kids’ academic performance in ways that were never possible before. So, it’s important to use the feedback as a way to open communication and help kids handle new challenges rather than jumping in to “fix” things or make accusations.