Parents today believe that it is harder now to raise children than when they were young. The number one reason? Technology.
The changes in technology that have occurred in the past twenty years are mind-boggling, and with these changes come parenting challenges. Prior to this era of technology, when confronted with parenting challenges, parents could fall back on the wisdom of previous generations. Before this age, children would look to parents as the experts in navigating the outside world. Now, parents struggle to stay abreast of the latest developments and often call upon the expertise of their children to navigate through this brave new world!
In spite of the challenges, parents are still the most important influence on their children’s lives. Children need to know that their parents are watching out for their health and safety in all aspects of their lives. It’s important for parents to talk among themselves on a regular basis to keep abreast of changes and to utilize tools put forth from trusted resources such as “Faith and Safety Initiative”, a resource from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The internet allows us to learn, connect with friends and family, play and grow. Unfortunately, it can also bring cyberbullying, pornography, and predators into our homes. Parents can reduce the possibility of these bad consequences through accountability software and content filters, but the most important tool that they have to protect their children is themselves. Talk to your children about your concerns and establish guidelines which everyone in the family follows.
When considering your plan of action regarding internet use and safety, first look at your own habits. In survey after survey, the number one grievance of the majority of our children and youth goes something like: “I wish my parents would get off their screens and talk to me.” Our actions speak louder than our words.
Consider these suggestions:
Help your children understand that our devices should serve our needs, not control us. Model responsible behavior. The habits you exhibit concerning technology use in your home will become your children’s habits.