Gadgets come with an instruction manual; children do not.
In homes across the nation, there are two sets of people – the digital citizens and the digital migrants raising them. Digital citizens are born with smart phones and tablets are at their fingertips. Digital migrants were born when mobile phones were still analog.
While there is pressure to keep up with the changes in technology, there is also the danger of being too wired.
Let me ask these questions:
#1 As we upgrade to the latest gadget or update our social media posts, how much do we upgrade our home life and update our family as to what’s happening in our lives?
#2 Do we recognize our difficulties, concerns, and lack of communication when our digital kids prefer their social media network over real home connections?
#3 Does your family follow guidelines so that there is a balance between time online and off?
Picture a typical family Sunday lunch, with the parents and the kids at their favorite restaurant. There should be a lot of chatter and laughter as it is the family’s time to bond. But these days, families are mostly silent. They may be together, but their heads are mostly bowed down, staring at their screens.
It is therefore necessary to ensure that as our family grows and goes through the digital age, it would be able to survive and thrive amidst these technological upgrades and changes.
How then can we make the home digital-savvy while keeping family relationships a priority? Here are some tips and strategies that well-meaning parents can do to guide their children in the digital age:
#1 Make relationships a priority. The connection that we have in the family is most important. Managing a tech-savvy home is really about parenting. Be clear on media use guidelines, and apply consequences. Make sure that every family member knows his online life responsibilities. That values being instilled in the family applies – both on and offline.
#2 Connect for real. Share stories during family meals. Make it mushy. Be clingy not only in your social media posts, but more so in person. Social media gives us a sense of anonymity, and so we use it to share what we cannot do so in person. Connect for real. Face-to-face chats must be enjoyable. Make positive influences a priority, both online and off.
#3 Determine age and development appropriateness. While the digital world is vast, not all of it can contribute to the well-being of our children. Give them access only to what is age and developmentally appropriate. Check how they are growing and evolving, and make available to them only the content that is correct.
#4 Unplug and play. Play is a critical psychological need for both kids and adults. When one immerses in offline play, pursues a hobby, or engages in leisurely pursuits, it affects his socio-emotional, physical, and mental well-being. One becomes more active and creative, even rested in the process of being unplugged. If given a choice between real life play versus gadget – choose the right balance between digital life and real life experiences.
#5 Be critical media literates. We cannot shield digital natives from what the wired world has to offer. We should also reflect on the authenticity of information and how it affects us. There is a need at home to help young and old alike develop critical and logical thinking capacities. Make the time spent online become teaching moments for the family.
This article originally appeared in Family Matters, but has since been updated.