Navigating Parenthood in the Digital Age
There are lots of useful tools to help you as the parent to manage your child’s screen time and online safety
Parenting in the digital age is like navigating a sail boat through a sea of apps, games, and screens! You, as the parent, wield the power to manage screen time, choose the perfect apps or games and explore the vast digital landscape so it’s important that you think about it. As digital devices and screens become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, managing the role of technology in parenting has become more crucial than ever.
Managing Screen Time
Finding the right amount of screen time is a difficult task. Everyone has their own opinions on what you should or shouldn’t do and you, like us, may have reluctantly found a small amount of screen time to be incredibly useful during times when you need to calm your little one down. If you are happy to allow your sprogs a bit of screen time, then there are tools out there to enable you to set the limits, helping you to carve out tech-free zones at home. That way you can maintain a perfect harmony between screen adventures and real-life quests. For iOS households, Apple's ‘Screen Time’ is useful, offering built-in controls that provide daily limits and extensive insights and control over your child's screen time, surpassing third-party apps. If you're in an Android household with kids under 13, Google Family Link takes the lead. This free app empowers parents to set daily usage limits and disable their child's phone at bedtime, but it's important to note that children age out of the restrictions at 13. If you have older kids or you are looking for additional features like multiple screen-time schedules, Qustodio can help you. The premium version not only allows setting time limits and multiple schedules but also enables call blocking and provides access to view text messages and web searches.
Selecting Appropriate Apps or Games
Sail through sites like Common Sense Media to get an idea on appropriate ages for media that you child might be interested in.
Ahoy, digital treasure hunters! With a sea of apps and games, finding the gems for your young explorers can be a challenge. Sail through platforms like Common Sense Media (a site that gives age rated reviews for movies, TV, books, games, podcasts, apps and Youtube) to uncover the hidden treasures - ones that are not only fun but also educational, age-appropriate, and spark creativity and teamwork. You can also use tricks like built-in screen lock features on your iPhone or android phone to keep your bubbas looking at the app you have chosen for them, rather than allowing them to explore the outside online universe (or indeed the content of your mobile phone) before they are perhaps ready to do so.
On iOS, this can be managed through a feature known as Guided Access (Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access) which can be set up with Touch ID, Face ID or a passcode. Once this is turned on and you have opened your desired app, you can activate Guided Access by asking Siri to turn it on or by triple clicking the side button on the phone. You can choose specific screen areas to disable and configure options such as volume buttons and touch. Once you are ready, you can simply click ‘start’ and enter your passcode. For Android users, Google offers a similar feature called Pin Screen (although different phone manufacturers may use different names e.g. App Pinning). This straightforward tool ensures that once you pin an app, no changes can be made until you enter your PIN again. Go to Settings > Security > Advanced / More Security Settings > App Pinning (or similar). Once this is turned on, you can open the app you want to pin and swipe up to access the app tray and tap the app’s icon. You can then select ‘Pin App’ and confirm on the prompt screen.
Navigating the Digital Landscape
Avast, matey! The digital sea be full of perils and wonders. Familiarising oneself with potential online risks, such as cyberbullying, inappropriate content, or online privacy concerns, is critical. Chart your course by educating your young buccaneers about online safety, cyber sharks (read: cyberbullies) and the secrets to guard their online treasures (privacy). Equip them with the knowledge to brave the digital storms safely!
Parents can take advantage of a treasure chest of helpful apps if they know where to look!
Help with Parenting
The technology treasure chest is brimming with loot for parents too! From apps tailored for parents (e.g. Huckleberry which helps new parents record feeding times etc and find the best time to put your baby down for sleep) to monitoring tools fit for a tech-savvy captain, there's no shortage of support on this high-tech voyage. Apps and online communities cater specifically to parental needs, offering advice, support, and resources for various challenges. Stay connected with your little sailors using video calls, messages in a bottle (well, texts) and social media platforms when distance keeps you apart.
Final Thoughts
In summary, parenting in the digital age is an exhilarating adventure! Sailing through the choppy waters of screen time, vetting the best digital booty that’s appropriate for your child, fostering open communication about the possible dangers of the online world and guiding your crew through the vast digital ocean requires a mix of wisdom, humour, and a keen eye for both treasure and the occasional digital shark. Staying informed, engaged, and open to evolving digital landscapes will continue to be the cornerstone of effective parenting in an increasingly digital world.
Stay merry and adaptable, for the tech winds may change, but the central parenting aims remain constant. Embrace the joy of tech whilst being aware of the potential pitfalls and ensure your young adventurers navigate this digital sea safely, fostering a healthy relationship with technology, all while sharing a laugh and making the journey a grand and exciting one!