Parenting in the Digital Age is a challenge for parents and teachers
There has been much critical discourse about the use of digital technology and the escalating children’s mental health crisis relative to how benchmarks like stress, anxiety and loneliness are driving depression and other serious psychological conditions amongst youth populations like never before. Of course, children are not the only ones suffering, as parents and caregivers struggle to prevent, address and treat concerns in order to uphold kids’ emotional well-being. In this process, the adults themselves are suffering in kind often exacerbating their own mental and emotional struggles amid the copious complexities of modern life. This, of course, has a litany of macroeconomic implications.
As one case in point, a Morgan Stanley Alliance for Children’s Mental Health Research report cited that six in ten of those who are concerned say their children’s mental health has impacted them negatively, with nearly half of those indicating it has affected their productivity at work. The report goes on to reveal that fully 48% of working parents who reported concern said their children’s mental health has impacted their performance at work in some way, including having to deal with disruptions and an inability to concentrate on the job. Some concerned working parents have considered reducing their working hours to support their child(ren), while others have even considered quitting their jobs altogether.
Relative to the role of Internet use, specifically, in the children’s mental health crisis, other reported research from the Child Mind Institute found that approximately half of the parents polled expressed concern over the impact of internet use on cognitive, social and emotional development.
In today’s digital age, parents are tasked with navigating an ever-evolving technology landscape to address and safeguard their kids’ mental health while also balancing work and parenting, an endeavour that has become a daunting, often seemingly impossible task that’s ushered in an era of pressure-driven parenting, says Neuropsychologist, Dr Jatali Bellanton.
It is certainly possible for kids to thrive and deeply benefit from technological advancements. But, parents and caregivers must wholeheartedly commit to not just monitoring such usage and activities, but also achieving and sustaining healthy boundaries away from screens and buttons, both the kids and the adults. The key is to fill that tech downtime with activities that foster connectivity to, and reverence for, real-world experiences. And, when technology is in use, remaining hyper-observant and aware ensures it’s not impeding the child’s mental health in any way, whether before, during or after. If red flags are present, however minor, it’s imperative to address them immediately.
Tips for Parents
Dr Bellanton, also a technology futurist and leading Metaverse influencer, has some valuable insights into how parents can navigate this tricky, ever-changing terrain, especially for younger elementary-age children.
- Ditch rigid schedules. While it’s essential to have some structure in your child’s daily routine, it’s equally important to provide flexibility. Instead of imposing a strict, timed schedule on your child’s educational or other activities, Dr Bellanton recommends creating a more relaxed and flexible approach that fits around the parents’ work schedule.
- Create safe folders for YouTube videos and shows that your child is allowed to watch. With the abundance of inappropriate content available on the internet, it can be challenging to monitor what your child is watching. However, by creating special YouTube folders and streaming media playlists on Netflix and the like, parents can control the content their children consume and avoid unnecessary worry.
- Introduce your children to hobbies that require the use of different parts of the brain. Whether it’s sculpting, painting, or physical activities that teach children how to utilise new tools, engaging in a hobby at least once every other day can help children develop new skills and foster creativity.
- Creating a star chart system is another effective way to incentivise and reward children for doing things that do not involve digital devices. For instance, parents can reward their children for cleaning, reading, or playing outside, instead of spending time on screens.
- Have conversations with children about online predators and teach them to be cautious when playing games like Roblox. Parents should also pay attention to the music played in games, as some songs may contain inappropriate lyrics.
- Put timers on devices to limit screen time. Parents can set a specific amount of time for their children to watch videos or play games on their devices, ensuring they have a healthy balance of screen time and other activities.
Parenting in the digital age is a challenge that requires a multifaceted and highly concerted approach with tactical strategies that must be employed with intention and upheld with consistency. Doing so will allow families to embrace the litany of benefits the digital age affords and use them to derive emotional and lifestyle advantages rather than impairments.
Dr Bellanton was the 2019 recipient of the American Mothers New York State Mother of the Year, and is the founder of Brilliant Minds Unite, author of Kidpreneurs and founder of the Kids Who Bank financial literacy program that was deployed in hundreds of elementary schools across the United States.
- https://www.brilliantmindsunite.com/
Member Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analyst who reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B. LinkedIn www.LinkedIn.com/in/MerileeKern.
Sources:
https://www.morganstanley.com/articles/childrens-mental-health-effect-on-parents
https://www.morganstanley.com/articles/family-internet-use-survey
Read moreSocial media has long been a culprit in compromising kids’ mental health. A new American Psychological Association health advisory on social media use in adolescence offers the following scientific evidence-based recommendations:
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