Technology creates some challenges.

The Risks Of Raising Kids With Today’s Technology.

It’s part of a parent’s responsibility to make sure that their children are able to navigate all the challenges of growing up as best as possible. This includes enabling them to build friendships, develop social skills and manage their duties to school and chores. The addition of modern technology is quite a new challenge compared to everything else. Additionally, it is one that parents are still having some trouble getting to grips with. Here are some of the challenges that it poses and some ways you might be able to handle them.

It’s becoming harder to keep a good attention span

It should be noted that none of the modern trends we’re outlining here can have the blame solely laid at the feet of technology. However, constant access to immediate stimulation through screens has led to marked issues with their attention span. As such, it’s important to make sure that kids are taught control, even if it has to be enforced by tools such as screen time limiting tools like the unGlue app that makes sure they’re not stuck to the screens all the time.

Living more sedentary lives

This is a health concern that is across the board. Both adults and children are spending a lot more time parked on their rears indoors. It’s not all the kids’ fault, as the quality of outdoor play spaces is getting increasingly worse in cities and small towns all over. However, the stimulation that digital technology provides certain gives them more incentive to stay where they are. You can help prevent childhood obesity by making sure you play and exercise with your children, and use the above time limits to make sure they have to find something else to do when they can’t stay glued to screens.

They have access to all sorts

The internet can provide access to all kinds of fascinating information, engaging experiences, and interactions with people across the world. No parent needs to be told how this is just as much of a risk concern as it is a benefit. But there are tools like the Family Orbit app that can make it easier for you to control what your child accesses. You can monitor what they’re doing online and, if there is anything worthy of concern, use parental features to block it in the future, while talking to them about what types of content they should not be accessing.

It’s changing social interaction

There are two primary concerns when it comes to how the net affects our social relationships. The first is that over-reliance on online communication can make it difficult for some kids to socialize face-to-face. Therefore, it is important to make sure they’re taking part in hobby groups away from the screen. The other concern is more related to that social media can be a pretty untamed place, so look at sites like Internet Matters tips on how to make sure kids are using social media responsibly. Social Media responsibility includes what they post, what they engage with, and who they connect with.

There are real risks to their safety

Part of the conversation about safe social media use, and greater internet use, is that they should be careful with what they reveal. For instance, kids should be taught to never share their personal information. Their location, address, or personal info about their lives  should be protected info.  Additionally, kids have to be taught to recognize things like phishing scams and other attempts to steal their data. These could result in real danger.

Is it causing depression?

To say that there is any one cause of depression is simplifying the matter too much. However, a lack of real social engagement and connection with the world can be in part fueled by an addiction to digital media. As such, it’s important to make sure your child has the opportunities to enjoy what a kid should. Things such as playing with friends, time with parents, motivations, and hobbies out in the physical world are key to good development. Of course, if your child is truly dealing with depression, that might be something to start talking to a therapist about, rather than fixing it all alone.

There are risks to raising children in a home with modern technology. However, that does not mean you should disallow them from using it.

The benefits far outweigh the negatives.

Technology creates many opportunities.

We are in a world and a job market that relies on technology more than ever. Acknowledge the risks and know what you can do to help your child to navigate them.

Naturally Yours,

Elise Ho, Ph.D., D.N.Psy

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