Almost everything has become much easier since the advent of technology. Cooking happens faster and involves less smoke, transportation is smoother and everything is available at the click of a button or the swipe of a screen.
With it came very many inventions and apps for everything under the sun. Want to download music? There is an app. Want to stay updated on recipes? There is an app. Want your child to adopt reading from a young age? There is an app. There is even an app to keep track of your period, rather your fertility. Don’t be surprised if you find an app to feed your baby.
Parents have taken advantage of this technology boom and have used it to make parenting easier for them. It is not uncommon to find a parent giving their child access to digital devices just so they can get some work done. Cartoons on TV or even video games have easily become babysitters in this age.
As these children grow they get exposed to more powerful devices and more content. The internet is filled with good information but detrimental information too. Social media presence is almost a requirement for every teenager. It is like the new rite of passage. All this makes modern-day parenting a little more difficult than it was in the past.
Average time
According to research, children spend about 6.5 hours a day staring at screens. That accounts for TV, phones, tablets and computers. It is important to note that these 6.5 hours do not incorporate any educational material, so they could actually be spending much longer. Another study revealed that 92 percent of American kids already have an online presence by the time they are two years old! That is a very large percentage and a very young age.
It truly is disturbing but if you think about it, is very possible. Many parents actually set the ball rolling by posting pictures of their cute bubs as they grow and kids sort of take over when they become teenagers. It is the in-thing and those who are not on social media may get really harassed by their peers.
The only problem is the dangers that this exposes the children to. They can get access to sexual content prematurely, they could get bullied, and this can affect their sense of identity and self-esteem. It can be a distraction and can get slowly addictive which can affect their grades in school.
Tough job
Children need to understand the good and the bad about technology. They also need constant monitoring because the damage they can do online is a lot and can affect their future (think of nude photos as a teenager surfacing when they are applying for a scholarship or even a job).It is best that they have a balance. That is definitely easier said than done.
Teenagers and gadgets are inseparable. Phones are like an extension of their hands and they really have a hard time letting go. There is no other way though because you are better safe than sorry. You may not have to take their gadgets away from them but be sure to put some controls and limitations.
You can control what they can access online if you tweak the settings, find a way to track their phone and communication discreetly and also remember to tell them why you are placing limits. They may fight back and maybe even make you feel guilty for it but stand your ground. If you don’t know how to do any of these things, your service provider definitely knows how to. Make sure that everything is done discreetly so that your teenager doesn’t find a way around it. Take advantage of that same technology, won’t you? Your teenager’s future needs it.