Household Technology Rules
A child's day can be loosely divided into three categories: time spent with family, time spent at school, and time spent on their own. Most parents now consider it a pipe dream to try to exclude technology from any of these categories since it has pushed itself so aggressively into our lives. The greatest course of action is for you to comprehend how technology can benefit your child's life. But in order to maintain control, set up guidelines for using technology at home. The guidelines that follow provide examples of regulations that parents can employ and explain how to enforce them even when they are not there.
Spending time with the family
Family time is any time spent doing something together as a family. Family time includes both eating supper together and watching a movie. You only need to be present; you don't need to speak. Technology has the potential to both enhance and detract from family time. There may be more severe consequences than you can realize if you interrupt some tasks. For instance, the frequency of family meals influences young people's psychosocial results. The outcome will also be significantly impacted if the frequency is disturbed.
Using a laptop to video connect with a family member who lives halfway around the world is an example of how technology is extending family time. The alternative is your youngster texting while you're eating. Family time should be facilitated by technology, not hindered by it. Here are some guidelines to follow.
No texting when having meals with your family
It just makes sense that no phones should be allowed if family dinners have an impact on children's psychosocial outcomes. Family members can interact and chat about their day in this way, especially if they won't otherwise see each other.
Making a daily video call
If a member of the family is away, this guideline is especially crucial. similar to when a parent commutes from another city to work or when a youngster attends a boarding school. We can now make relationships where there weren't any two decades ago because to technology.
School Hours
Every youngster has homework when they go to school, in general. Schoolwork must be completed, whether it is an essay, a presentation, or studying for an exam. Making progress in these areas as a student can be easily hampered by technology. On the other hand, it can be really beneficial.
Your child's performance in school can be enhanced by teaching them how to utilize technology properly. For instance, the internet is a fantastic resource for subject research. However, one notification at a time from social media can quickly redirect your child's focus away from what has to be done. Additionally, using a phone while in class can harm academic achievement. You can regulate your child's time by following these guidelines for tweens when it comes to technology.
Use of a Phone to Schedule
Your child won't use their phone in class if you give them a set time each day to play with it.
App Blocking
If only there were a way for you to prevent your child from using distracting apps on their phone while they are in class. In fact, there is a method, which we'll discuss below.
Individual Time
All of your child's time is not your property. Even as they become older, kids need their privacy. How much online privacy should a teen have, though? The solution is somewhat intricate. A crucial stage in a child's growth is learning to earn your trust, especially if they do it well.
Children may enjoy using technology on their own leisure. There is often nothing wrong with that. Web browsing, playing video games, posting on social media, and texting are all enjoyable activities, but they all come with a number of risks. We've dedicated an entire blog to it!
But even if using the internet or technology in general improperly had no consequences, abusing it can still be harmful. Setting screen time restrictions is crucial to prevent your youngster from abusing technology. Although there are various screen-time recommendations made by authorities, it is your job to strike a balance between a healthy amount of screen time and too much.
Here are some guidelines for managing your child's personal time that relate to technology.
When they visit a friend, they bring their phone
Parents' peace of mind might be greatly improved by a quick phone call to inquire about their well-being or to find out where they are. You can even track their location if you have the correct app, just in case.
Internet search filtration
Filter offensive keywords from your child's web searches if you can. By doing this, you can guarantee that the internet remains a safe and educational space for your child.
Implement a parental control app
You can't always be with your child. They may occasionally be left alone or may go to a friend's house or to school. They might even try to hide their activity, believe it or not! These are all justifications for installing a parental control app. Additionally, you can enforce many of the aforementioned guidelines with the aid of a parental control program.
You can keep an eye on your child's technology use and digital well-being using a parental control tool like Safes. Download the app and give it a try for 14 days for free to discover more about Safes' features and costs.