Raising children and modern technologies
Remember the good old days when “watching TV” meant turning on cartoons on a Saturday morning, and watching something “on the computer” was an emergency thing you did while visiting your dad at work? Now fast forward 20 years, and now you’re raising your own children in the digital age. Thanks to technological inventions, modern parenting has faced a new wave of high-tech problems and solutions, so your (maybe a little old-fashioned but well-intentioned) family just can't resist some advice. New worries. Your mom never had to worry about you spending too much time on the computer or that your iPad affair might be harming your learning ability. As a digital mom, you now have to consider technology as part of the spectrum of your parenting concerns, which can potentially lead to sleepless nights and serious self-doubt. The bright side is that you're not the only one worried about your child's screen time—as new technology grows, so does the crop of new-age parents who are learning just like you. Communication between parents and children. Once upon a time, shouting in the yard was considered a complex type of communication between parents and children. The introduction of mobile phones has created a need to rethink how you and your baby share information. Even young children learn from text, so we too must learn to interpret the tone of written language. On the one hand, text communication can be fun because you can always get in touch with your child and stay in touch with him. On the other hand, it can sometimes be problematic when used as a substitute for verbal communication. New training. Kids have the world at their fingertips—literally! By turning on the computer, they have access to history lessons, learning tools, and math help. However, the availability of information can also be harmful, since the Internet offers many distractions. In a 2012 article in Psychology Today, psychologist Jim Taylor warns: “The bottom line is that there is too much screen time and a significant lack of other activities, such as reading, board games and good old-fashioned random yard games.” as a result, your children may become less, not more, ready to thrive in this crazy world of new technology.” Instead of your little student looking for quick and ready answers on the computer, suggest that he should go to the library. There, you and your child can always return to the computer as the last resort, but the child will learn that offline resources can also be used to solve problems. The best thing was the support. Let's face it: parenting can be pretty isolating. While you're waving "hi" to another mom on the playground, or taking a few minutes to chat casually while your child is excitedly playing, you're less likely to get an in-depth conversation about parenting. Technology and the ability to connect with people around the world have changed the face of parenting support. Online forums, chat rooms, blogs and groups mean that you will always have someone to give you their opinion on the good, the bad, or even the crippling aspects of parenting. Child safety. Children's online safety is a huge concern, especially when your little one is new to using the internet. Thanks to the anonymity of the World Wide Web, yesterday's bully looks like just a kid compared to today's bully. As a parent, you need to learn the face of internet bullies and teach your child how to use the internet safely. It's a good idea to refresh your memory about current security practices—research whether your personal password really isn't that easy to hack. Discipline. If you send your child to his room to think about his bad behavior, it may not have the desired effect since it is equipped with a TV, video games, computer and other technological things that make him happy. As a parent, you now have to think even more about discipline due to the availability of technology. If you simply take away the toy, it may not be as effective as if you limit video games. If your child is a technology addict, you will need to further learn how to use technology-based discipline tactics to get the behavior you want. Time relax. Do you like to sit back and watch your favorite TV series after a long day? So, it shouldn't surprise you that your child loves to relax with some kind of technology. While watching TV or a few minutes of fun computer games won't hurt, if your child becomes completely dependent on technology and misses out on other leisure activities, such as reading or playing LEGO games, it can harm them in the long run. Technology is all around us and provides great learning opportunities for children when used correctly and in moderation. Set aside technology use for a while, whether it's some quiet time after dinner or perhaps a long car ride. Don't use technology as a crutch or babysitter for your child - it could end up backfiring in the future. Think about it, technology is not inherently evil, it just requires time constraints and sound personal choices. In fact, sometimes reading blogs or letting your child spend time with the iPad is quite normal within the bounds of common sense. Just know that having technology in your parenting means using it only as a smart tool, not an all-out escape.
