Technology is more prevalent than ever in our daily lives. While it provides many conveniences and opportunities, it also poses unique challenges for parents as they try to raise children in the digital age. This guide offers tips and strategies to help parents navigate technology use in their homes. The advice is relevant for both parents and foster carers.
Setting Healthy Limits
One of the key responsibilities of parents today is setting healthy limits around technology use. Children’s and teens’ screen time should be restricted to 2 hours per day or less according to experts. One strategy is to create a “media plan” listing specific times during the day that technology can be accessed, rather than allowing unlimited access. If you are fostering with Fosterplus, this helps children learn self-regulation. Make sure to include offline and unplugged family activities in the schedule. Don’t allow tech devices in bedrooms after bedtime.
Promoting Safe Tech Use
The internet opens up an endless landscape of information and experiences for curious young minds. However, parents must promote safe and responsible tech use. Set up parental controls, monitor social media use, educate children about misinformation and fake news online, and teach strategies for dealing with cyberbullying. Foster carers may want to restrict social media at first as foster children get settled into a new home. Make sure children of all ages understand basic internet safety, such as not sharing personal details online and never meeting strangers from the internet in real life.
Role Modelling Healthy Device Use
Children often mimic their parents’ behaviour. If parents are constantly distracted by their own phones and devices, children will likely struggle to regulate their own technology use. Make sure to put down your phone, shut off screens, and be fully present during family time. Don’t text at the dinner table or use devices right before bedtime. Show children that their company is more valuable than your Facebook feed. Your actions as a parent speak louder than words when teaching kids about developing a healthy relationship with technology.
Encouraging Offline Activities
While some technology in moderation can be positive, it should not replace offline activities that are important for development. Make sure your family spends plenty of time interacting in the real world. Play board games together, take walks, participate in sports, and engage in creative arts like music and crafts. Foster carers may find that providing diverse offline activities helps foster children adjust to their new environment. Build skills like teamwork, conversation, and critical thinking through offline play and quality time spent together as a family away from screens.
Maintaining Open Communication
As children grow older, especially into the teen years, simply restricting access to technology will not work. Maintaining open, non-judgmental communication about technology is important. Have regular conversations about what kids are doing online, who they interact with digitally, and how to avoid online harms like bullying. Talk about the pressures social media can create surrounding self-image and the need to portray perfect versions of oneself online. Make sure kids feel comfortable coming to parents if they witness inappropriate behaviour online.
Parenting children comes with unique hurdles. However, these tips will allow parents to experience the upside of technology while minimising the potential downsides. With some education and forethought, parents can help kids thrive both online and offline.
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