When was the last time you pulled out an atlas to get directions to where you are going? What about the last last time you opened up an encyclopedia to research a question?
Or remember when you only found out about what relatives and friends had been up when you saw them face to face or they mailed you pictures?
Technology is an amazing tool when used properly and with guidance. This is particularly important for parents of school aged children. Parents as well as teens and tweens are on devices for an average of nine hours per day (commonsensemedia.org).
However, most young adults use technology while lacking awareness and skills to interact safely online.
Here are some helpful tips for safe and healthy balance of technology use:
Set boundaries at home. Have device-free dinners. Set hours or have a day a week where your children have time away from screens. The most important time you can spend with your children is face to face. Children often struggle with self-regulation and multitasking when it comes to screen time. Setting clear expectations and boundaries can help.
Know the individuals your children are talking to. Ask your son or daughter whom they are communicating with online. This includes games, comments, and chats beyond social media. Look for parental controls to regulate who your children can communicate with and make sure you teach your children that private information needs to stay private.
Be engaged with your child’s social media habits. Federal law states that you must be 13 or older to have social media accounts. Stick to that. Have conversations about whom they are friends with and what they are sharing. If bullying does happen on social media, children can’t just walk away from it. Always report, unfollow or block through the appropriate social media. Be sure to report any harmful incidents to your school or local authorities.
Let them create and learn. Not all screen time is negative. Children now have an abundance of free tools that will allow them to create unbelievable multimedia products. Through technology, children can now become coders, videographers, photographers, editors and more with a few clicks. Using devices to create, learn, and critically think helps build necessary workforce skills.
Be a good example. As a parent, your are you child’s first and foremost role model and this includes habits on devices. Don’t text and drive. Take time away from your devices to have quality time with your family. Be the example of how you want your children to compose themselves on social media. Children are always watching and learning, even online.
Technology has changed how we operate and learn as a society and will continue to be a driving force for change in the future. Organizations like Common Sense Media have resources for parents to keep up with the rapidly changing technology. Don’t be afraid of it, and don’t be afraid to talk to your children about it.
Nick Williams is technology director for the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. Send comments to editorial@therepublic.com.
