In this digital age, parents play an important role in their children’s behavior. Modeling kindness and good manners online will teach children values. Limit your own media usage and always be available for your children. Hugging and playing with them is more productive compared to simply staring at a screen.
Children learn best through face-to-face communication. Instead of communicating through texting, try to have time for your kids. Quality time spent with your kids help them develop a positive self-concept, trust, and self-confidence. This encourages more family time, healthier eating habits, and better sleep which are critical for children’s health and wellness.
Never use technology as an emotional stabilizer. Media can be very effective in calming kids but children need to be taught how to identify and handle strong emotions such as managing boredom through reading and writing, talking about ways to solve the problem, and finding other approaches for channeling emotions.
Online relationships are part of a typical adolescent development. However, be sure that your kids are behaving appropriately both on the real and online worlds. Always remind them that a platform’s privacy settings do not make things actually private and that images, thoughts, and behaviors shared online will instantly become a part of their digital footprint indefinitely.
Even if they are concerned about the privacy of their personal information online but their identities can be stolen through their use of social media. As a parent, be empathic. Try to handle errors with empathy and turn a mistake into a learning experience and keep your lines open and let them know you’re there if they have questions or concerns.
Most kids complain boredom when we suggest that they turn off their screens. Try to encourage your kids to share their objections when they engage with the 3D world, and then listen without scolding. It’s very important to hear their opinions and then offer a solution that will benefit you both.
Undeniably, these media devices foster social connectivity not only among kids but also among us. We stay connected with our loved ones, stay up to date with the news, and work out our hectic schedules with a few clicks. Everything is just within reach because of the advent of information and communication technology.
Although media and technology are integral in this digital divide, time with family and friends still plays a more important role in promoting children’s learning and healthy development.