Digital media has quickly transformed parenting styles like how parents and children interact, have fun, learn and solve problems on a daily basis. Young children are frequent users of smartphones and tablets, posing new challenges to parent-child relationships and parent roles.
Children as young as 2-4 years old will use touchscreen devices such as tablets or smartphones to play games or watch movies, and parents often teach their children how to use them in boring social situations.
In this technological generation, children are leading the adults. From kindergarten children to college students, a digital study has been established. Schoolwork is also discussed online; even online study has started.
Top 7 Secrets of Great Digital Parenting
Parenting is not a simple job, but it has become a bit difficult with the digital parenting concept. But if parents wish to manage such difficulty, there are obviously some solutions. Some tips for great parenting practices are discussed below:
1. Communicate With Your Kids:
Maintaining an open line of communication with your children is the most important example of quality digital parenting. Early and often, communication is key to a better relationship. It should not be debate, argument, or insults. Make communication informational and clean.
It’s more like a continuous conversation that will shift and change as your child progresses through various growth stages. Keep a level head. Open up and be honest with yourself. However, continue to converse.
Communication also vanishes misunderstanding, if there is any. If you don’t understand anything they are up to, tell them straightforwardly. Do not throw tantrums or superiority or set complex rules as parents; instead, handle your children with love, care, and affection. Children only understand the language of love, whether they may be of any age group.
2. Self-Education Is Essential:
As we all know that today’s kids are more connected to digital life more than parents do. Kids know how to operate them without anyone’s support. Your kids might teach you how to upload photos and videos to your social media accounts, could handle Alexa easily, and many more.
Educate yourself through youtube videos, articles, and more resources available on the internet. Try to be familiar with the latest update that keeps happening on a digital platform. Make yourself highlighted in front of your children. Do not let your kids think you are outdated.
Do not hesitate to learn new things. Sometimes, your teens or kids might teach you something, listen to them and respect their efforts. Do not withstand. Please do not show tantrums or neglect your kids. Try exploring new things every day.
3. Use Parental Control Applications:
There are various inappropriate contents available on the internet which children should neglect. Children may knowingly or unknowingly interact with such content. Parents could better use parental controls applications to monitor kids’ devices and block such content.
Some parental control applications are fenced.ai, Qustodio, KidLogger, and more. Such apps help track your children’s location, monitor phone activities, social media activities, set screen time limitations, and other benefits. You can control your kids’ search history and help them enjoy safe internet surfing.
Move from controls to monitoring tools as your children get older, especially around time limits, to prohibit texting in class or late-night puffing. With these applications’ help, you could watch and control your children even by staying away from them.
4. Establish basic rules, boundaries, and restrictions:
Many parents are unsure where to begin when it comes to establishing digital ground rules for children. However, there are various online safety contracts to choose from and basic house rules like no mobile phones during family times and turning off their phones at sleep time.
Ban devices during study time, mealtime, family functions or gathering, and other important quality family times. Make sure your kids follow the rules effectively. Teach your children to try to be happy without external devices. You can set a punishment if children do not follow the rules efficiently.
Punishment should not be harsh. Include seizing their mobile phone for 1 day, extra study hours, do not cook their favorite food, and make them cook or wash dishes as punishment. Do not hit, threaten or scold your children. That is not good for your relationships.
5. Don’t Stalk, But Be A Friend And Follow:
When your teens enter the social media world, ensure that you are their first friend. Follow your kids on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other accounts on the internet. Set a friendly relationship with your children so that they could trust you and share every problem with you. Keep a note of who they interact online.
Don’t go crazy and post daily comments, but also don’t go too light. As your teens make their first explorations into the world of social media, it’s important to stay close. Don’t, however, fall into the trap of spying on your children. Trust is built through conversation rather than stalking.
Allow your teen to try new things, take reasonable risks, and develop adaptability in a safe environment. Let them realize that the internet has both positive and negative sides. Teach them how to tackle online predators or other problems that are caused by the internet. Share a trustworthy and healthy relationship with your children.
6. Discover, Share, And Cheer Together:
Do not hesitate to go online with your children now that you have the rules and tools in place. Play online or offline games, watch Youtube, share pictures and videos, and hang out with your kids on the internet. Keep records from your children and have a great time.
Share your favourite websites and apps with everyone, including your children. Take a view of the worlds from your children’s eyes. And as you lead them down the path, tell them about your values and belief. See-through their perspective about any topics. Do not judge your children.
To involve your teens, you should first fit in their shoes. Never forget that once you were also teenagers and you also faced difficulty with your parents. Remember what you went through and try to understand your children and never start comparing them with other teens. Do not act strict and rude. Please share your experiences about internet usage, problems that occurred, and how to manage them properly.
7. Set a Good Example In The Digital World:
Do you bring your professional life between family matters? Are you involved in replying to notifications or emails while your child is communicating? Do you text while driving or having a meal? If so, how would you teach your children about healthy digital habits? It is necessary to improve yourself first.
We have all been in such a phase at one point or another. Children imitate their parents. If your device usage is out of control, you are almost certainly portraying behaviors that your children would imitate. Be the change you want to see in the world of digital parenting. It is not that difficult.
Try handling your family and digital life positively. During family times and important occasions, set your devices aside and fully enjoy the moment. You can also share good informative videos or content with children. Surf the internet in such a way that your children could sit by your side and view along with you.
FAQ
Can Non-Technical Parents Perform Digital Parenting Perfectly?
Of course. Digital parenting is not so difficult for non-technical parents, but you should learn more. Self-learning is very important. Engage in online training programs related to digital parenting. Share with your friends too. Get involved in the parent’s community where parents from various countries discuss parenting and handle children.
Is Technology Bad For Kids?
Using mobile phones or tablets excessively may lead to mental health issues. But if you set a limit, it is not too risky. You can use parental controls software if you have any doubt about your children. But do not suppress them.
Use such apps in a friendly way. Set boundaries for children about using devices. For example, do not allow mobile phones during mealtime, sleep time, study time, and family time. Switching off mobile sometimes is also equally necessary.
Conclusion
Hence, digital parenting is everyone’s cup of tea if parents are willing to follow it wisely. Digital parenting has become a necessity along with time, and you can’t deny it, so accept it and go with the flow. Eventually, you will become a great digital hero for your children, and your efforts will be worth it. Do not hesitate but try balancing your digital life and real-life peacefully.
