Having a child in the 21st century is not easy. With the rise of technology, both parents and kids are investing increasingly more time in looking at screens. Kids, now more than ever, need direct guidance from parents to navigate through this new world. Luckily, there are many ways to help your kid grow up happy and healthy in an increasingly “online” world. Here are 8 tips for parenting in the 21st century.
1. Establish a Healthy Bedtime Routine
Kids today are getting less sleep than ever before. One major reason for this is mobile devices. Young kids stay up late at night playing or binge-watching on their phones. This not only affects their sleep cycle but also causes harm to their eyes, brain and overall health.
As a parent, you must take charge and establish a healthy bedtime routine. this will help in facilitating sleep. This is especially important for younger children who need to sleep properly in order to grow and develop properly. Establish a proper bedtime for your child, and make sure they stick to it. Sleep is crucial not only for physical health but also for mental health. Research shows that kids who don't get enough sleep are at higher risk for anxiety and depression later in their lives. A healthy bedtime routine can also ensure your child gets the rest they need.
2. Set Rules and Guidelines for Device Usage
Kids are spending more and more time on their devices, and this is having a negative effect on both mental health and physical health. The problem is that too much screen time is having a negative effect on kids, and there are many ways you can help mitigate this. Make sure to set rules for how much time your child should spend on each device, and encourage your kid to take regular breaks from their device. For younger kids, make sure to set a time limit for screen time to avoid overstimulation. When setting these rules, try to avoid employing a "no screen time" rule. Kids sometimes feel rebellious when deprived of screen time, and this can make the situation worse. Instead, focus on setting boundaries by device type, and specific time limits.
3. Make Screen Time an Opportunity for Bonding
Screen time can be an opportunity for bonding between parent and child. There are many fun, creative activities that you can do with your child while they are on their device. You can play games, watch movies or shows together, or even use your child's device to strengthen your own skills. You can practice social media skills or use online tools to strengthen your career. No matter what you end up doing, make sure to stay present and focused on your child. Screen time can also be an opportunity for you to help your child build their social and emotional skills. You can help your child navigate difficult social situations, or you can teach them how to be a better friend by helping them navigate challenging features on their device.
4. Don't Forget to Be a Role Model
As much as you try to set rules and guidelines for your child's device usage, you will not be able to fully mitigate their screen time by yourself. Kids are watching what you do even more closely than what you say. Make sure to keep your own device usage in check, and avoid being glued to your devices. Be a role model for healthy device usage by setting regular limits for yourself, and by turning off your device when it is time to focus on more important things in your life.
5. Help Your Child Build Independence and Confidence
Kids today are under enormous pressure to excel at everything and to succeed in an increasingly competitive world. This makes it essential that they learn to build their own confidence and self-esteem, and that they develop their own skills and strengths. Help your child to discover their passions, and to pursue their dreams and goals. This can be done through regular activities like sports, extracurricular activities, and regular family time. You can also help your child build their confidence and independence by using digital tools. You can use apps to encourage creative thinking, or you can encourage your child to use online tools to help them with their schoolwork. Try always to be mindful of the way that you use technology, and help your child to learn to navigate their own devices in a way that builds confidence, and not dependence.
6. Teach by Example – Not Just Words
Parents often find themselves lecturing their kids about the dangers of screen time, and the importance of regular exercise, healthy eating, and sleep. While this is certainly important, it is also essential to walk the walk by practising what you preach. If you want your kid to be more active, be more active yourself. If you want your kid to spend less time on their devices, put down your device and go outside with them. If you want your kid to eat better, cook healthy meals with them, and encourage them to try new things by trying new things yourself. If you want your child to get enough sleep, make sure to set a good example by getting enough rest yourself.
7. Be Mindful of Language and Behaviour Modelling
Kids are keenly aware of everything that is happening around them. They are watching, listening, and learning all the time. This means that you should be mindful of the language that you use around your child. Make sure to avoid swear words around your kids, and try to use positive language when speaking. This can help to positively influence your child's development. Additionally, make sure to be mindful of your behaviour around your child. Do not spend hours on your device while your child is present, and don't let your child see you watching lots of TV. Instead, encourage your child to spend time with you, and help them to understand that devices can be a pleasant or unpleasant thing.
8. Don't Feel Guilty About Digital Fasts
Many parents are feeling guilty about using or spending too much time on their devices. This is understandable, given the growing amount of research pointing to the negative effects of device usage. However, we don't recommend feeling guilty about this. Instead, try to view device usage as a positive and necessary part of life in the 21st century. However, it is also important to be mindful and aware of how you are using your device. To help you do this, we recommend setting time limits on your device usage and setting regular digital detoxes. A digital detox is when you set a certain amount of time (usually 24 hours) to abstain from using your devices. We recommend doing this once a week and setting a time limit of at least 8 hours of this. This will help you to reset, and become more mindful of how you are using your devices. This can help you to balance your device usage, as well as help you to relax, and avoid fatigue.
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