TIPS FOR PARENTS ON KIDS & TECH

Technology can be empowering for kids but can impact their development too. How can you balance this and make technology work for your family?

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In the digital age we live in, parenthood involves more than just helping a child navigate the real world. It now means guiding them through the virtual one too. It’s clear that technology is here to stay, so it’s essential to teach kids to use it in a healthy way, by developing skills and habits that shape them into successful digital citizens. Let’s delve into what that means.

HOW TO HANDLE ONLINE MEDIA AT HOME

Create a family media use plan

Media should work for you, your household values and your parenting style. When used moderately and appropriately, it can be a great tool and enhance everyday life. Unfortunately, it can sometimes displace more important activities like face-to-face interaction, family time, outdoor play, exercise, unplugged downtime and sleep. So it’s essential to use it well and a family plan can provide ground rules and structure to make this happen.

Treat all environments the same way

The same parenting guidelines apply in both real and digital environments. Set limits; kids need them, expect them and respond well to them. Know your children’s friends, both online and off. Know what platforms, software, and apps your children are using. Keep an eye on what sites they visit and what activities they take part in online, exactly as you would in the real world.

Have limits and prioritise playtime

Like any other activity, it’s a good idea to have reasonable limits around media use. Playing offline, in an unstructured way, is really important for children - it stimulates creativity and mental relaxation. It’s really healthy to make unplugged playtime a priority every day and it promotes better concentration, self assuredness and mental resilience.