Technology is one of the biggest parenting challenges of our era. As the generation that first grew up with computers in the home is becoming parents, these are arguably some of the best-equipped people to handle the challenges of exposing children to technology.
However, the challenges posed by new technology and digital platforms are varied, ever-evolving, and unprecedented.
Given concerns about the effects of early screen exposure in kids, including delayed or stunted cognitive and social development and risks to mental well-being, introducing technology responsibly and in a healthy way is essential.
If you’re looking to keep your kids safe online and help them reap the benefits of the digital realm without endangering their well-being, this article explores three ways to do just that.
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1. Make use of parental controls
When it comes to ensuring your kids’ tech use is measured and monitored, parental controls are your best friend.
With them, you can monitor what your child has access to and how long they spend using certain apps (or using a device at all).
Even Alexa has a child-friendly option, which lets them contact a parent or trusted adult in an emergency, but its use is limited to essentials.
Setting limits helps to make tech use part of an otherwise balanced and healthy routine.
2. Maximise educational capabilities
Phones and tablets are great for recreational activities, but they’re also highly useful for learning. After all, it is a gift to have easy access to information about any subject at the press of a button.
It’s not a bad thing for children to learn how to utilise this, and tech can be a supportive tool for education.
Introducing the internet as a tool for research is also an opportunity to teach your child how to interrogate information to ensure accuracy, to promote trusted sources and to warn of the dangers of misinformation and how to challenge anything that doesn’t seem quite right.
Your child’s teachers may provide some guidance on how to use technology at home to support learning.
One great example is using tools like FlexiQuiz, which can be used to create quizzes for testing knowledge and revising school subjects.
The so-called gamification of education is a fantastic way to engage children and create excitement around study and school subjects.
3. Present alternatives
One of the best things you can do to limit your child’s screen time is to present them with alternatives.
Teach them how to spend their time without defaulting to picking up a device.
This could include playing games as a family, reading or physical activity.
You can also consider skill-building. It may be particularly beneficial to teach your children skills that they otherwise might use technology for.
For instance, if they have a question, take them to a library and encourage them to find a library book which answers it.
Alternatively, encourage your child to learn to use physical maps to navigate - you can turn it into a fun adventure trail for them.
By discouraging a reliance on technology, you help your child learn self-sufficiency and broaden their capacity to think for themselves.
If you’re looking for ways to introduce your child to technology safely and responsibly, these are just a few tips to normalise use in the home while managing tech access.
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