TOP TIPS TO HELP YOU MAKE SMART TECH DECISION FOR YOUR CHILD

Written by Liza John  

From smart air conditioning sets that you can control from an app on your phone to satellites that spy on other countries, technology is everywhere and our dependence on it has been increasing exponentially over the past few decades. The pandemic has only increased this dependence multi-fold.   

Children these days use laptops or smartphones to attend their classes, to stay connected with their friends or for recreation. According to studies, 86 percent of school going children have access to the internet in high income countries, while globally this stands at 33 percent these numbers are fast rising. With these numbers the harmful effects of technology use among children and young adults have been receiving plenty of attention lately.  

Bringing your child up on some lonely island in Oceania and in an attempt to keep them away from technology doesn’t seem like a very pragmatic solution. From increased hand-eye coordination to enhancing education, technology has tons of benefits as well, so cutting your children off from technology might prove to be counterproductive. So, what can you do to ensure that your child reaps these benefits while staying safe from harm, read on to find out! 

1. Perfectly Balanced, As All Things Should Be  

Who knew Thanos was dropping tips on managing technology use among children? Anyways, the point is that we need to aim for balance. Simply by not giving your child access to smartphones or tablets will not solve the problem. They may be exposed to technology at their schools or somewhere else. So, it is better that you introduce your child to technology at an early age.  

Technology can empower children of all ages by supporting creativity, innovation, enhancing their learning experience and enabling them to stay connected with friends and family. However, cyberbullying, age-inappropriate content, and other risks like increase in aggression often linked with video games could be causes of worry.  

Every child is different, what works for one child may not work for another, so ensure that your approach is tailored to your child. Achieving the balance will be different for your 10-year-old child will be different from your 7-year-old. Allow the rules you set to evolve as your child grows.   

2. Be The Change  

Particularly younger children see parents as their role models and try to mimic or inculcate what parents do. If you exhibit healthy use of technology your child will be sure to follow as your child constantly learns by watching, you.   

If you ask your child to use technology responsibly while you binge watch on Netflix or stay up late surfing the internet or show any such unhealthy habits will confuse your child and this may create unwanted tension as they grow up. Be the Tony Stark to your Peter Parker.  

3. Make It a Family Deal  

Have your own set of rules for your family including gadget free areas, or screen free family time. Involving your child in setting these rules ensures that your child will have a more positive outlook towards these rules and be more likely to follow these rules.  

Try to spend screen time together with your kid, this may be watching a movie or playing video games together. This serves two purposes, firstly you get to see what kind of content your child is exposed to and also allows you to bond with your child.   

4. Talk to Them  

Have discussions with your child on the use of technology and limits you set. It is okay to have disagreements with your child, stay calm. Do never try to intimidate them or otherwise force them to do something against their will. This will only result in them doing those activities behind your back.  

Instead educate your child about the negative effects of technology and the need to self-regulate their use of gadgets and online media. This way they will try to monitor their behaviour and regulate screen times on their own. Educating your children will also help keep them safe from various threats they may face online.  

Encourage consumer scepticism in your child. Social media and video game companies have very smart people working behind them to ensure that we stay stuck to the screens. Helping your child understand this is integral.  

Additional Tips  

Encourage your child to do other activities they enjoy like sports or singing or dancing and get them the resources to pursue these.   

Your child will make mistakes, rather than getting angry or enforcing stricter rules, turn it into a lesson for them to learn from.   

If you feel your child is experiencing or exhibiting serious negative impacts do not hesitate to get help from a paediatrician or counsellor.