Digital Parenting is not easy
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In today’s fast-changing digital world, we parents have a big task, not only do we need to do the usual parenting stuff, like school, sports and generally make sure they come out alright, but we must now also parent in the digital world, becoming “Digital Parents”. We must guide our children through the world of technology and what it can be used to access.
With devices and the internet being a massive part of our lives, parents need to be careful, considerate and communicative when it comes to the digital world. In some cases, our children are more digitally savvy than us parents and can run rings around our technical and digital knowledge. That said, I don’t think you need to be a tech expert to support your children online, you just need to be involved and engaged, whilst encouraging good and open communication between the family members.
I have written this guide to help you become more informed when it comes to parenting in the digital age. It will hopefully give you the tools and digital parenting strategies to become more educated about your children’s safety online and help them develop good tech and online habits.
A downloadable infographic is available at the bottom, which summarizes this blog post, so you can print it off and discuss it as a family.
What I will cover?
- Understand the prevalence of technology in children’s lives and the associated online risks and challenges.
- Establish healthy digital boundaries, including setting limits on screen time.
- Foster digital literacy and critical thinking skills in your children.
- Address cyberbullying and ensure online safety through proactive measures.
- Balance technology with offline activities and hobbies to promote a healthy digital-life balance.
1. Understanding the Digital Landscape for Parents
In today’s world, the digital landscape changes fast, keeping up with the latest trends, social media, gaming and new devices. Parents must be careful as technology is a big part of children’s lives, not only at home but also at school and on the bus to school (where apparently many a video is shared). As smartphones, social media, online games, and streaming are key parts of their daily lives, it’s important as parents to know about these risks for our children. A recent eSafety Research Study carried out by the eSafety Commissioner (Australian Government) found that the parental concerns with their children accessing the internet covered 5 areas:
The Prevalence of Technology in Children’s Lives
Children start using digital devices early, whether it’s to watch their favourite cartoon on the family iPad or getting their first smartphone at 10. A recent study found children spend up to 7 hours a day on screens, this can be at school, doing homework or just communicating with friends on their smartphones. This makes technology a huge part of their life, changing how they talk, learn, have fun and interact with others.
Online Risks and Challenges for Digital-Age Children
Technology has many benefits but also risks for children, such as cyberbullying, privacy concerns, and the risk of seeing age-inappropriate content. Cybersecurity is also a big worry as children become more connected to the online world through various digital devices. Teaching children about cybersecurity involves educating them on the potential threats they may encounter online, such as cybercrime, digital reputation, and the importance of privacy settings.
| Online Risk | Description |
|---|---|
| Cyberbullying | Bullying and harassment that occurs through digital platforms, such as social media, messaging apps, and online gaming |
| Privacy Concerns | The risk of personal information being shared or misused online, including location data, photos, and sensitive details. |
| Inappropriate Content | Exposure to age-inappropriate or harmful content, such as violence, explicit material, or misinformation. This can include sexting. |
| Cybercrime | Those looking to exploit vulnerabilities in digital systems to gain unauthorized access, steal sensitive information or coerce the information from you by pretending to be someone else. |
| Digital Addiction | The potential for excessive and unhealthy use of digital devices and online platforms, leading to negative impacts on physical and mental well-being |
| Unwanted Contact | This could be talking to someone online who isn’t who they say they are, with the potential for grooming to occur. |
Why you don’t give out your account details?
Not so a funny story, but, it was devastating to my 8-year-old, who while playing Roblox, managed to get his account “hacked”. However, after talking to him, he gave his username and password out in the hope of getting free Robux (or at least that is what it said in the live chat). This is when I realised I had to have an online safety conversation with him. It was also a valuable lesson in what information you share or don’t share online, like passwords. We as parents can make sure our children are educated on the risks and any mitigation.
Protecting their Computers
Just to be a little bit technical for a moment, as my boys have computers and download all sorts of software I made sure it was non-negotiable to install anti-virus and anti-malware on their computers. For anti-virus software, I went with Trend Micro (click link to purchase) as it also covered all family computers and I could manage from a central portal. For anti-malware, I went with Malwarebytes (click link to purchase), and again I installed it on all family computers.
2. Active Digital Parenting
It’s key for parents to set the right digital boundaries for children. Technology is everywhere, so parents must find a good balance. We need to use tech wisely and teach our children healthy tech habits, even role-modelling those behaviours ourselves.
Setting clear screen time limits is a big part of digital boundaries. This means having areas in the home where screens aren’t allowed, like the dinner table or bedrooms. It also means setting times when screens are off, like before bed.
Setting Limits on Screen Time
We should also encourage our children to do things offline. This could be reading, playing outside, music, making art or just going for a kick around with their mates. This helps keep a good balance in their lives.
- Designate device-free zones in the home, such as the dining room or bedrooms.
- Implement screen-free schedules, such as limiting recreational screen time before bedtime.
- Encourage offline activities and hobbies to promote a balanced lifestyle.
- I also automate when the home Wi-Fi is active using my Google Nest setup (click link to purchase).
By setting digital boundaries and being responsible with technology use, we teach children a good way to use devices. This hopefully helps them have a healthy balance between being online and offline.
“The key to successful digital parenting is not to ban technology, but to find a healthy balance that allows children to benefit from its advantages while also developing essential life skills and engaging in offline activities.”
3. Fostering Digital Literacy and Critical Thinking
In today’s fast-changing digital world, teaching children about digital literacy and critical thinking is key. We need to help our children use the internet safely and wisely. This means educating them to always check if the information is true, ask questions and make smart choices online.
Being digitally literate means more than just knowing how to use technology. It’s about knowing how to find, judge, and use digital information well. By educating our children to think deeply about what they find online, we give them important skills for now and later.
Teaching our children to question online content is important for digital literacy. Helping them know the difference between trustworthy and misleading sources builds a healthy doubt. This doubt helps them in the digital world, not everything to see on TikTok is true!
We also need to grow our children’s critical thinking. This means educating them to look at information fairly, think about different views from multiple sources, and make their own smart choices. By doing this, we help our children be more informed when online, to question and handle challenges well.
Building digital literacy and critical thinking is a team effort. As parents, we must also understand how they are being taught at school, and ask other parents how they are approaching the safety of online conversation with their children.
Sharing Online
It is also critical for digital parenting to guide our children in what information is ok to share online and what is not, setting some boundaries as it were:
- Personal Information: avoid sharing personal details such as their full name, address, phone number, or school name, basically anything that can personally identify you. It’s important to use only a screen name and not share passwords, except with parents.
- Photos and Videos: be cautious about posting personal pictures or videos online. It’s best to avoid sharing images that could reveal their location or identity.
- Online Interactions: never agree to meet someone in person whom they have met online without parental approval and supervision. Make sure your online contacts are who they say they are. We should encourage our children to speak to us if there is anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or threatened. Communication is key.
4. Addressing Cyberbullying and Online Safety
As parents navigate the digital world, tackling cyberbullying and online safety is key. It’s crucial to spot cyberbullying signs, educate and protect your children online. Parents must be alert and take steps to keep their children safe in the digital world.
Recognizing Signs of Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can take many forms, like mean online comments or constant digital harassment. As a parent, watch for changes in your child’s behaviour. Look for signs like avoiding friends, mood swings, or not wanting to use their devices. This could mean they’re facing cyberbullying.
Proactive Measures for Online Safety
To fight cyberbullying and ensure online safety, parents must act early. Check your child’s online activities often, adjust their device and social media privacy, and talk openly about their online life. Teaching your child about safe digital behaviour and digital literacy helps them handle the online world better.
“Cyberbullying is a growing concern in the digital age, but with vigilance and proactive measures, digital parents can create a safer online environment for their children.”
By focusing on cyberbullying and online safety, parents can make the digital world safer for our children. There are lots of tools online, such as your particular country’s online safety agency to further educate yourself, here is a favourite video of mine.
5. Digital Parenting: Balancing Tech and Real-Life
In today’s world, finding the right balance between tech and real life is tough for digital parents. But, it’s key to a healthy childhood. By promoting offline activities and hobbies, we help our children learn important life skills. This also strengthens family ties and keeps them connected to the real world.
Encouraging Offline Activities and Hobbies
Digital tools and devices are great for learning and fun, but we must not forget about non-digital activities for our children. These offline, real-world hobbies boost their creativity, problem-solving, and social skills. Activities like art, music, sports, and outdoor adventures teach them valuable lessons and deepen their appreciation for life.
Setting aside time for family outings, board game nights or going for a kick-around helps our children find a good balance between the digital world and real life. These moments of being unplugged strengthen family bonds. They also give our children a break from the digital world.
6. Monitoring and Controlling Online Content
In today’s digital world, parents must be active in monitoring their children’s online activities. Using parental control tools (for certain age groups) and settings can help children have a safe online experience. For example, setting up a separate child’s account on Netflix, this way, they can enjoy online content without facing inappropriate content.
Parental Control Tools and Settings
There are many parental control tools (I have not tried these, just some examples) out there to help parents manage their children’s online time. These tools let parents filter content, set time limits, and track online activities. This helps parents create a digital space that fits their family’s needs.
- Content Filtering: These tools can block sites, apps, or content that’s not good for children.
- Time Limits: Parents can set limits on how much time their children spend on devices, keeping a balance between screen time and other activities.
- Activity Tracking: Tools let parents see what their children are searching online, what they’ve looked at, and who they’re talking to online. This helps parents understand their children’s online habits.
| Parental Control Tool | Key Features | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Google Family Link | Content filtering, time limits, location tracking | Android, Chromebook |
| Apple Screen Time | Content filtering, time limits, app usage tracking | iOS, macOS |
| Qustodio | Content filtering, time limits, activity tracking, location monitoring | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS |
By checking and changing these settings often, families can make their digital space safer and aligned with their own values. That said, we as a parent can control what goes on at home really well, but it is harder as they get older and their friends do not have the same restrictions implemented on their devices. This is where the education and critical thinking piece comes in, making that smart choice to look at a video a friend has on their phone or not.
“Parental control tools are key for guiding our children in the digital world. They let us watch and manage what they see online, making sure it’s positive and helpful for everyone.”
7. Building Trust and Open Communication
The key for digital parents is to create trusting and open communication with their children, which will help make the parent-child bond stronger. By being non-judgmental, we can make our children feel safe to talk about their online lives and worries with us.
Trust is the base of open talks. Parents should really listen to their children, understanding their feelings and views. This respect leads to honest talks about tech’s good and bad sides.
- Regularly check in with your child about their digital activities and online interactions.
- Encourage them to express their concerns or questions without fear of having their devices taken away.
- Be receptive to their insights and perspectives, even if they differ from your own.
“The key to effective digital parenting is maintaining an open, non-judgmental line of communication with your child. This fosters a sense of trust and empowers them to navigate the online world responsibly.” – Digital Parenting Expert
By promoting open communication, parents can get a better grasp of their child’s online life. They can spot risks and help them make smart choices. This teamwork helps children learn how to use the internet wisely and safely. The digital world brings both good and bad for families. Focusing on trust and talking openly can help our children do well online, which can also strengthen family bonds.
Focusing on trust and talking openly can help our children do well online, which can also strengthen family bonds. #digitalparenting Share on X8. Embracing the Positives of Technology
In today’s world, we face the challenge of dealing with technology’s effects on their children. It’s true, there are risks and challenges online. But, there are also huge educational and creative opportunities that technology brings. By seeing the benefits of technology, parents can help their children do well in the digital world and not fear it.
Educational and Creative Opportunities Online
The internet has changed how children learn and explore. Digital parenting means using online tools to make learning better. Children can find everything from interactive learning sites and apps to virtual field trips and online classes. These tools offer educational opportunities that spark curiosity and help children grow.
Technology also lets children be creative. They can make art with digital tools, create YouTube videos, or music, or even learn coding. These creative opportunities help them develop their skills, by learning how to solve problems and think critically.
By using the benefits of technology wisely, parents can help their children succeed. They can guide them in using the internet in a smart way. This way, children can reach their full potential in the 21st century as technology and the digital world are only going to get ever more consuming.
“Technology is not the enemy; it’s a tool that can be harnessed to enhance learning and foster creativity.”
Digital Parenting: Navigating the Challenges
Digital technologies keep changing, and so do the challenges parents face. It’s key for us as parents to stay updated and informed. We need to try to keep up with the latest tech trends and how they affect children’s well-being. By being proactive and mindful, families can help their children do well in the digital world.
Keeping up with new tech and knowing its risks and benefits is vital. Parents must also be ready for the ongoing challenges of social media and online trends. Talking openly with children and always learning (under your guidance) helps them use technology safely and wisely. If I had my time again, would I let my boys have access to certain social media platforms as soon as they met the minimum age allowed, probably not. Sadly, that horse has bolted and I am playing catchup, using these strategies.
As digital parenting changes, families must be ready to adapt. Finding a balance between technology benefits and setting limits is important. This way, parents can help children to be smarter and more considered online. With some digital skills, talking openly, and focusing on well-being, digital parenting can be rewarding for everyone.
I hope this has helped in some way, please leave a comment with what worked for your digital parenting style?
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely my own and reflect my personal experiences as a digital parent to two teenage online game-playing boys. While I strive to provide helpful information and share what has worked for me, please remember that everyone’s situation is unique. The content provided here is not intended as professional advice. If you require specific guidance or support, I strongly encourage you to seek assistance from qualified professionals in the relevant field
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