Parenting in the Digital Age

I have read that according to a recent study, 2 out of 3 parents are completely unaware of their children’s activities using the internet. You might be thinking that kids can manage themselves and exploring is fine and that it’s something you encourage in your household. Like a corporate zombie, you then resume with your busy schedule, phone calls, meetings and you barely even have time for your kids anymore when you get home. I understand how this is becoming a rinse-and-repeat process as I am one of those corporate slaves too, but we are parents.



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Based on my own experience, I listed down useful tips for digital parenting:

1. Set boundaries – it could be a no-internet-zone in your house or a browsing curfew set after dinner. Just create an air of authority on this. I know kids will always be kids but it’s necessary for them to know the essence of responsible freedom as early as possible.

2. Security – Use site filters, check applications before installing them in any device, know the age requirement in these applications too. If you want to breathe a sigh of relief, Visible Internet is an awesome monitoring application for parents, too.



3. Moderation – Anything excessive is bad. Limit your kids’ usage of devices such as tablets and phones. Well, they don’t really need one of their own so let them borrow yours and as mentioned, set a time limit which is non-negotiable.

4. Talk to your kids and explain that digital devices are not toys – they are tools that make our lives convenient only if utilized the right way.

Kids will always imitate what they see so it’s important to be a role model in this endeavor and participate in their digital experience. Let your kids know your values and share how to see the world in a digital perspective.

Source: visibleinternet.com