The Coronavirus has altered daily life and thus new habits and customs are born. Spending more time at home is a novelty for many families, who are not used to spending so many hours indoors. Technology is then anticipated as a great ally to spend time but ... How to do plan for responsible consumption of technology for children? Help the children to consume technology responsibly it requires specific habits and norms.
It's not about demonizing technology per se for this is neither good nor bad in itself. Instead, it's about the uses of technology, especially when we talk about children.
Thinking of a responsible technology consumption plan
Get the kids to do a responsible consumption of technology It depends above all on adults, either parents or those who look after the integral health of the little ones. It is a reality that we live in the middle of a system of screens and gadgets, and that even adults need mobile phones and notebooks to carry out our work. The responsibility is to create a technology consumption plan, that takes into account the uses and the number of hours that children spend in front of the computer or with the mobile. Also the information they access, the networks in which they interact, online security and the games they use.
Un technology healthy consumption plan for kids It requires a certain prior organization that begins with the habits and customs of each family. What consumption do I want my children to make of technology? Is it important that my children know the current technological tools or do I prefer other analog systems? What parenting style do I want for my children? These triggering questions can help establish the paradigm that will guide the healthy eating plan I want to design indoors.
Reflect on the technology and media consumption It is vital to improve daily habits at home, especially during quarantine as children often spend more time in front of screens.
Responsible use of technology: the limits
Once a position is taken, it is time to establish the limits of the responsible technology consumption plan. As in the real world, in the virtual world there are also specific guidelines regarding times, places, people, etc. If in real life, parents know the people with whom their children interact, the same should happen with technology. Also the amount of time spent on technology use such as knowledge of the sites, applications, software that children access. If in real life, parents are aware of everything that happens around children, the same should happen if we talk about the relationship between children and technology.
On the other hand, it is important to establish reasonable limits that allow a creative and productive use of technology, also alternating the use of technology with free time outside of it. You should also know that technology can help in the bonds between parents and children, especially if you choose virtual activities such as sharing videos, playing interactive games in pairs, learning to use programming and creativity applications together, etc.
No less important is delegate responsibility for the use of technology to children andn increasing form. As they age, it is important to encourage them to achieve responsible self-consumption, a good use of technology. It is they who, along with online autonomy, must know how to set their own limits regarding the hours they spend in front of the screen. The uses they make, the friends they interact with, the sites they enter, the searches they carry out, etc. The road has many edges ...
It would be optimal for parents to teach usages and customs little by little so that, as they grow, the children incorporate healthy technology consumption habits that they can implement independently in adolescence.