IS TECHNOLOGY STUNTING YOUR CHILD’S SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT?
Written by Olivia Arrow
Is your child struggling with understanding people’s feelings, making eye contact, or carrying on conversations that feel real and rewarding? If so, these could be signs that they’re having a hard time with social skills, and it could be linked to how much time they spend using technology.
In a world where social media likes can sometimes seem more important than actual playtime with friends, it’s really important to understand how technology can affect a child’s social skills. It’s not just about knowing how to use a phone or a tablet, but also about learning how to connect and interact with others in a healthy way.
It’s a scary world for parents in the digital age, children are able to swipe before they can even walk! When exploring the world of emojis, chats, and too much time online, it can be a lot to handle, even for grown-ups! It’s completely understandable if you feel overwhelmed when you think about how all this tech stuff might be shaping your child’s experiences in the world. The influence of technology on a child’s lives and social ability has been and will probably continue to be a hot topic that is constantly being addressed by parents, teachers and psychologists.
Not to worry, striking a healthy balance, and raising tech-savvy social butterflies while reducing the risks of raising screen-obsessed hermits is not as hard as may seem, you just need to be committed!
Make Sure You Are Promoting Offline Social Activities And Interactions
Encouraging children to get out there and have fun with their friends is super important for their social skills.
Things like playdates, after-school clubs, and community events give kids a chance to practise talking to each other and learning how to be nice, sharing and taking turns. A bonus, getting some fresh air and playing outside can help them be more active and confident too.
It’s also important to keep an eye on how much time they spend on screens so they don’t miss out on all the fun stuff happening in the real world. As a parent, helping your child strike a balance between online and offline interactions is necessary, it will help them grow into well-rounded, sociable people.
Moderate and purposeful screen time can help kids learn to work together, share and be nice to each other online. It can make them better at teamwork and working with others, which are important skills in today’s tech-filled world.
Setting Healthy Screen Time Limits and Monitoring Content is a Must!
Setting healthy screen time limits is super important for making sure our kids have enough time for all the fun activities that help them grow socially. It’s a good idea to set some clear rules, like no phones or tablets during meals or right before bedtime. This helps create boundaries and encourages them to interact with other people face-to-face, which is important for their social development.
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on what they’re watching and doing online. You can use those parental controls and keep tabs on their online activities to make sure they’re seeing stuff that’s right for their age and that you feel good about. By being mindful of screen time and what they’re seeing online, you can help your child navigate the digital world in a healthy way and make sure they don’t miss out on important social skills development.
While screen time can be fun and even educational, using it too much can make it hard for kids to learn how to socialise and talk to other people face-to-face. This can make them feel lonely and not want to go out and hang out with their friends.
It’s essential to make sure your child doesn’t forget how to be a real human and connect with others offline. Sure, technology gives them cool new ways to communicate and learn, but we also need to keep an eye on how much time they spend in front of screens and make sure they have plenty of old-fashioned, in-person time too. That means encouraging them to do activities that don’t involve phones or computers, setting clear rules about screen time. By doing that, we can help them grow up to be well-rounded, socially skilled people who can navigate the digital world responsibly and with ease.