Knowing how to properly parent in a digital age of tablets, phones, computers, and gaming consoles is truly a tumultuous task. Many parents try their best to understand their kid’s attraction to Twitter, grabble with their fascination for Facebook, and question their favouritism toward Flappy Birds. For many parents in today’s digital age, parenting can make us feel left behind and out of touch. Also, you might be tempted to let your kids spend hours everyday on their digital device serving as a digital babysitter hoping they are learning in the process or you might be the type of parent that is wary of integrating technology at an early age and so not knowing how digital device time might affect them, tend to put tighter restrictions in place.
Studies have shown that portable device ownership in households has more than doubled in the past few years – and as many parents are finding, children are highly proficient at using them. If you are an adult in possession of both a tablet and children, the children are very likely to take possession of the device at some point. During my research, it was common to find experts in this field of study who think that monitored and scheduled times for portable device or computer use did not show any harm. And so I think the key here is keeping an eye on what they are doing and controlling the amount of time they spend on it. The difficulty for everyone right now is that the research on this topic is in it’s infancy and therefore we know little about what is going on in a child’s head while they are using these devices. I think until more research is compiled, parents should follow their own instincts while monitoring usage and keeping track of the amount of time spent on them.
Current research suggests that for children under 2 allow little or no screen time at all. But, if you decide to let your baby or toddler play with your device, try keeping it to 15 or 20 minutes, when their attention is likely to fade anyway. Be ready with something new and interesting to do next. For older children, the research suggests a limit of one or two hours of total screen time a day. That means TV, DVDs and computers as well as mobile devices. With that in mind, you might want to think about how using a screen fits into your child’s life. You could reserve it as an occasional treat or during car ride, for example. In the end, research tends to emphasize that we need to be aware of how much screen time you engage in at home. There is a link between how much TV you as a parent watch and how much your child watches, so try to lead by example. Also too, there’s wide expert agreement that digital devices should not be switched on during mealtimes. Mealtimes are an important chance for families to build good eating habits and enjoy a chat. Watching any kind of digital technology while eating can mean that you miss the cues that they have eaten enough. It is important to be responsive to your kids during mealtime and screen time can get in the way.
Most of the research on electronic media and education is about watching TV, with some additional studies on computers and video games. It’s possible that the different nature of apps could give different results, once researchers have had more time to study them. Based on what we already know, the answer depends a lot on the child’s age. In the under-twos, there is limited evidence of benefits, such as increasing vocabulary. But other studies suggest that the under-twos do not learn much from electronic media. Using screens might hold back the development of language and thinking skills. It’s also easy for you to overestimate how much your baby is learning. As your child gets older, they will have an increasing ability to learn from electronic media. Some research has found that some apps can build vocabulary and literacy skills. Quality is important, though. Look for apps that:
- Are right for your child’s age.
- Is fun and engaging.
- Provide achievable goals.
- Encourage parents to join in.
At any age, your involvement is really important. Your child will probably learn a lot more if you spend time playing on apps with them, rather than leaving them to do it on their own. Also, when you are choosing an app for your child, try to make sure it’s relevant to things they are learning at home or at preschool. That way, the app may help to reinforce their learning.
The government of Canada’s website has some really good resources for parents. If you go to http://getcybersafe.gc.ca and under the Resources tab there are many videos that deal with parenting in the digital age along with further publications and links to browse.
