Parenting in the modern day has become challenging as it needs advancement to overcome contemporary children. Looking after your present-day kids is easy yet grueling. The whole idea of parenting requires updates to keep up with the children of the current generation. As a parent of modern-day, you should accept challenges, learn new things and keep yourself up-to-date.
Your kids want a friend more than a formal member of the family to interact with them on daily basis. Similarly, the dos and do not set as instructions require acceptance from kids. Concerning this, obedience is mandatory for children. So, modern-day parenting is quite challenging.
What kids discern from the environment is what they understand. What your child perceives from the surrounding is not under your control. Hence the best thing to do is try to understand them. Parenting can never be perfect but, you can try to do your best to be a modern parent. Kids may have a disturbed mind and need relaxation and yoga is great for children.
Firstly, the digital world has made everything related to parenting difficult. When you were little, you did not have access to cell phones or tabs but now, children are attached to it. More than that, parents have a hard time adjusting to the devices. The communication your kids have with other people might be unknown to you.
Secondly, the curiosity about what kids are doing on the internet leads to more questions as parents. The latest trends and habits are confusing at times. But being a modern parent is more about trying than being perfect.
Some Challenging Factors Of Modern Day Parenting:
There are some factors that need addressing to make parenting work much easier and effortless. The situations require you to be more understanding, while others need support from your kids. The major thing is safety for kids. It can be school safety or safety at other places. Some reasons why parenting has become more challenging in the modern-day along with their solutions include:
Being Likable To Kids
Very often, to be a good parent, you compromise a lot. You try to give the best you can for your kids. You fear what your kid will say when you ask them to keep the door open. Kids at a certain age want you to behave in a certain way and demand privacy after some age gap.
The fright which you had as kids to respect your parents has now turned towards you. For now, you might get worried if kids will like you or not. In this modern era, you are good as a parent, only if your kids find you cool enough.
Solution
The solution to this is to let go of the fear of not being a perfect parent. It does not matter if you are superannuated with the latest trend. You should never stop being a parent. Also, it is ok if your kids get irritated with your habits. You do not always need to give them what they want.
It doesn’t matter if you do not understand slang like LOL, ROFL on the internet, or how you should dress up. It is ok if you have no idea about the latest computer games. Make your kids understand that you are trying to be a part of their: cool gang.
Correcting Kids
The entire relationship between you and your kid relies on you advising them. As they seek guidance, make sure you are not too liberal. In the rush of being a perfect modern parent, do not forget to let them know what you expect of them.
Sometimes you as parents forget the challenge of shaping your kids from childhood. We are so lost in being wanted that we forget to let them know what we bank on for them. Your kids are automatically well behaved once they know what they should do. And then you can stop worrying about them.
Solution
Make your kids understand what you expect from them. If your teenage son keeps the room dirty, then let him know you expected him to clean his room. “I expected a cleaner room. Maybe it will be clean by tomorrow morning.” Do not correct them by saying: “ Your room is dirty, how can you live in a room like this?”.
You know the capability of your kids. Regarding the scores in examinations, if they score low, ” I thought you got rewarded with many A’s. There is always next time to try.”
Not “What is this? Such a shame! These grades are too low.” Such dialects will give a hint as to what you expect from your kids.
Technology Interference
Technology has made everything easy. Whether it is ordering food online, getting a doctor’s appointment, or playing games internet has made everything easier. Children are experiencing this ease from the very beginning of their life. And they have no idea about what is it like to wait in line to get food. Kids may seek for privacy even inside their cell phone by use of decoy applications.
The things made easy by technology are appreciable and are not ignorable. But you cannot deny the fact that children are missing real-life experiences. Children are missing the outdoor sports allured by the enticing virtual game like Apex legends. You can ask your kid to play out sometimes and spend time in nature. It is essential to teach them how to enjoy without the help of digital devices.
Solution
The dependency of kids on technology for entertainment, studies, skill learning is high. Take your kid to the library and explain about books, make them wait in a line for food sometimes. Let them know what life is without digital devices, how the world works without digital devices.
They should not overly dependent on online stuff. Fishing and hiking are good ways rather than enjoying petting cartoons on the screen, children can visit zoos to observe animals better. The virtual games need replacement by actual cycling or football, basketball playing. Instead of painting on your digital device get a canvas and paint on your canvas. These things will not just make you creative but you will also have physical exercise while doing it.
Doing Anything For Kids
You may know that sometimes kids can be very choosey and demanding. While one moment they opt for one shade of the dress, they want a different one in another moment. It is ok for you to fulfill their demands. But you need to make them understand that it is not always feasible to do what they prefer.
Tell them about your difficulties at times, the ones that will teach them a lesson of patience. It is ok if you cannot always do what they want. If your kid wants strawberry muffins, but the store is out of it. Then instead of going to all the stores in the town to search for strawberry muffins ask them to adjust with a blueberry one. This will make the adjusting and less demanding.
Solution
Let children know that the world is full of competition. In this rush of being the best parent, you as a parent are trying your level best for your kids. And for this, you might be trying to fulfill your kids’ every demand. Sometimes this may not be feasible. In such cases, you should ask them to be happy with whatever they have.
Build an understanding in your children such that they feel you and love you for every little thing you do for them. Kids could be wanting to get the latest game that ran out of stock. Instead of trying to get things that are not in the store right now you can surprise them with stuff they love including a guitar, art palette, or anything they love.
Supportive Surrounding
Your kids are influenced by family members at home, peers, and school members at school. The locality you live in includes many people in the neighborhood. Children learn from the environment they are surrounded by and knowingly unknowingly absorb habits and ways.
When children are together, they may end up punching one another. If your kid ill behaves, it does not mean you did inadequate parenting. Parenting is a process, and it is good to be surrounded by people who understand and help.
Sometimes kids learn habits of other kids like poking at the back. It may seem normal to them but you need to make them understand that it’s not good to poke or harm others and should stop doing so.
Solution
Try to know the type of friends your child is surrounded by in school. Children your kids hang out and interact with. Make sure they ask permission before meeting anyone new. If you are in a hurry, then ask someone you trust to look after your toddler for a while.
Having a supportive family is equally important. Your child can be a victim of teasing or bullying at school or at society. During this time, family members should sit together as strength and tackle the problem together.
Some Other Challenging Factors For Modern-Day Parenting
Some difficulties your kids feel in the whole process of parenting can be because of you. No parent ever makes a mistake regarding parenting on purpose, but sometimes some things miss out.
Giving Time To Your Kids
As a modern parent, you have a busy schedule in which there is little time allocation for kids. In such a situation, there is no one to blame. You are occupied with your kids and work too. But in the dash, make sure you give enough time and attention to your kids. All your free time should be for your kids and their development process.
These days due to the busy schedule of parents, kids when deprived of attention and care and they tend to divert to other people for attention. In this digital world full of strangers children love the one who gives them attention. If you do not have much time, let them know that you care before they jump into the internet in the search for attention.
Solution
Cognize their likes and dislikes and show them you are a concern for them regularly. Keep notice of their changing habits and how they are. Also, have good family time at least on time a day or during the weekend. In this way, you remain updated on their life and know what they are doing.
Oversee the friends your kid has. In the case of a toddler, leave it with a nanny. Attach baby-proof locks for cabinets, and watch children via cc camera all day. Make your kid feel special and be present for their major events in their lives. Let them know how much you love and care for them.
If you have a hectic routine, then wait till the weekend or vacation. You can plan a family outing and get to know your kid better. Spend quality time skiing or bowling and take your kid out for movies. Know about their interest, hobbies and try to do activities that are related to them.
Unstable Life
Parenting is not always perfect, parenting is something you learn yourself through your experience. With the changes you deal with, your child is directly or indirectly affected. There can be fluctuations in finances or personal or office life. This variation will affect your kids directly and indirectly.
After having a bad day, and your kid sees you brooding, they get affected too. Sometimes the financial difficulties and personal relationships also impact your kid.
Solution
In any instability or crisis, let your child know about it even giving hints is enough for them to understand. Tell them in a way if they can help in it. For example, if you have a new person in your life, let your child know. Let the meeting happen at a perfect time carefully.
Children are sensitive and are attached to people or objects so give them some time to get used to the new situation. If you are not able to fulfill all their demands, then explain to them. Alterations take place, and you have to teach your kid to tackle them.
Moral Values Inculcation
Kids require moral values as guidelines for life. Good behavior and proper treatment towards others are basic manners. Sometimes you as a parent fail to input such practicality in your kids. You might unknowingly fail to recognize their actions.
In modern times, the internet has tons of content that include immoral activities. These contents like porn distract your kids. Dark humor, adult games, and sites require restriction. Violent contents disturb mental peace.
Solution
You can make your kids watch cartoons with moral messages. Reading storybooks with them will develop a good habit of reading. You can install parental control at home. Screen time managing applications are of great help. If you catch your kid doing something immoral, be very strict and take immediate action.
If someone like a teacher or your kid’s friends report a complaint against your son, take it seriously. Teach your children the necessary social behavior and manners. Pay attention to the day-to-day activities of your child.
Inner Emotional Ties
Parents can have a strong emotional attachment with their kids. In the absence of enough time, children feel lonely. They will seek your company. After not finding time, kids will stop sharing their deep emotions with you. You can start with sharing your day at work and wait for your kid to share theirs.
Kids usually share personal stuff with their friends, but you can ask them about it. Your child may have a crush or may need the advice to ask someone out on a date. Be present when your kids need emotional support from you.
Solution
When children feel they are not cared for and be emotionally broken, they need someone to listen to them. Loneliness requires a company that can hear and gives solutions at the same time.
Listen to your kid’s problems and try to help them find solutions. In this way, you can have a special bond with your kids. If your child has a broken heart, then try to mend it. Tell stories about your life and explain with experience help your kid stay fit mentally.
Most often, mental tension leads to emotional turmoil. This situation applies to adolescents who are sensitive to emotions. Try to be an understanding parent and love your kids for who they are and let them be what they want to be.
Conclusion
Yes, the modern-day has made parenting more challenging. You have to consider many challenging factors in this modern-day like giving time, correcting, being likable, digital parenting, supportive surrounding, and more.
