In today’s rapidly evolving world, technology has become more and more of a significant part of our everyday lives. Though navigating this can be hard enough for adults, learning to navigate one’s relationship with technology as a child can be even more difficult.
Unfortunately, children seem to have become dependent on technology, with many of today’s youth are displaying signs that they are addicted to their smartphones. As such, many parents have become interested in learning how they can help their children have a healthy relationship with technology.
Luckily, there are ways that parents can help their children develop a healthy relationship with technology. Understanding how to do this for one’s children can make the process easier and more accessible.
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Negative Effects of Technology on Children
Before jumping in to help one’s children cut back on their technological usage, parents should know what the detrimental effects that technology can have are. Here are some negative symptoms that can arise a result of overusing technology:
- Lack of attention
- Sleep problems
- Greater risk of obesity
- Behavior problems
- Vulnerability to harmful content
- Vulnerability to cyberbullying
- Increased anxiety
- Addiction to technology
- Increased levels of isolation
- Decreased social interactions
Given the breadth and scope of the negative impacts that technology can have on children, it’s important for parents to address these issues before they become too severe.
Ways Parents Can Help Their Children with Technology
Given the disheartening negative consequences that technological use can have on one’s children, it’s important for parents to know how to help their children not experience these effects. Here are some ways in which parents can foster a healthy relationship between their children and technology:
- Monitor their children’s technological usage: Unfortunately, it’s become increasingly common for parents to have little to no idea what their children are doing online. Closely monitoring your children’s internet usage can offer parents the chance to keep their children safe from harmful content, cyberbullying, and the overuse of technology.
- Encourage educational technology: Many parents can make a beneficial impact on their children by encouraging them to utilize the educational resources that technology has to offer. By doing this, parents can encourage their children to interact with technology in a positive way.
- Talking to your children: Oftentimes, when parents go about attempting to correct one of their children’s behaviors, they’ll forget to tell them why. By communicating openly, parents can give their children an understanding of the negative effects that overusing technology can have on their lives.
- Take advantage of screen limiting apps: As a parent, one can’t be looking over their child’s shoulder every second of every day. By using apps that limit screentime on phones, tablets, or computers, parents can ensure that their children aren’t overusing technology even when they’re not present.
- Make a habit of doing technology-free activities: Oftentimes, children addicted to technology feel like they have no alternatives to provide them with the dopamine rush they are looking for. By introducing one’s children to activities such as playing sports and hiking, parents can provide their children with new, technology-free ways to have fun.
Benefits of Technology
Though technology can become unhealthy when it is misused, it has some redeeming qualities. When attempting to help one’s children develop a healthier relationship with technology, it’s important to keep in mind the positive benefits that technology can have on them as well. Here are some of the beneficial aspects of technology:
- Connecting with others in different places: Though spending hours scrolling through social media can be a bad use of one’s time, having the ability to meaningly connect with others is one of the major benefits of technology. Whether it’s relatives in another country or friends living out of state, being able to have video calls and online interactions with others is a great way to stay connected and foster healthy social relationships.
- Utilizing technology for education: In today’s world, the convenience of technology has made it a great tool for education. It’s easier than ever to find educational tools and classes online, and one can help their children explore educational passions and interests with remarkable ease and accessibility.
- Preparing children for careers: As the world becomes increasingly digital, many jobs are doing so as well. Those who are unfamiliar with how to navigate a digital landscape will likely be at a disadvantage when entering the job market. Though children shouldn’t spend all of their free time in front of a screen, allowing children to learn how to navigate a technological world can benefit their ability to have a successful career later in life.
Making the Change
Though it can be difficult to make the change, parents can improve the lives of their children by helping them develop a healthier relationship with technology. The more common technological usage becomes, the more difficult it can get to determine what unhealthy technological usage looks like.
Parents can benefit from being aware of how their children use technology and the effects that it can have on them. By setting some parameters around their children’s use of technology, parents can rest assured that their children will develop healthy habits that benefit them rather than damage them.
