T
echnology, like Rock ‘n Roll,
is here to stay. It is not going
anywhere. So we need to
face our fear and deal with
it. We cannot fight it, run from it
or refuse to allow it to exist. Here
are some tips that will help you to
start parenting your digital natives
a bit more effectively.
1. Accept that technology is here
to stay and make a commitment to
yourself to try and embrace it.
2.
Don’t believe all the bad
press technology gets. Technology
does not damage your brain, make
you lonely or turn you into a gunwielding teenager - you do that.
3. Take an interest in what your
children are doing. Sit down and
watch their favourite TV program
with them or spend a bit of time
watching them playing a game on
their computer.
4.
Ask them about the game,
what the objective is, why they like
it, whether they can play it virtually
with others.
5.
Play with them - you never
know - you may unleash your
inner-gamer.
6.
Set boundaries and stick to
them. Involve your children in setting
the limits. Discuss balance with them
and ask what boundaries they think will
help them achieve balance between
family time, homework, friends, sport
and technology. Implement them. ***
7.
Don’t believe the standard “2
hours” screen time suggested by
your childrens educators. They are
more than likely as technologically
challenged and terrified as you.
There is no “ideal” time. Each child
is different. You will also see, once
you’ve played a game yourself, that
you will start having hateful thoughts
if the plug gets pulled just as you’re
about to slay the final dragon.
8.
Knowledge is power. Educate
yourself. Read to keep abreast of what
is going on and to stay in touch with
is happening technologically and the
things your children are involved in.
9.
Get your child to help you to
learn. Ask them to help you with
something you’ve been struggling
with technologically - or ask them how
something works.
10. Talk to your children about the
“old-days”, about writing and mailing
letters, about telephones with round
dials or even mobile phones that were
as big as bricks. Talk about how cell
phones have given us constant line
of communication to our friends and
family and try to imagine what it was