Analogue parenting in the digital age
Everything digital exists only behind a screen. You can never touch it, feel it, taste it or smell it. Children need a sufficient balance of real-world experiences. Smartphones and addictive social media threaten that balance.
Real-world experiences are important for children’s development. This means face-to-face social interactions rather than messaging or social media. Physical games are healthier than addictive computer games. But it’s hard to control the digital technology in our children’s lives because there is so much of it!
We are all about limiting digital technology and maximising real, tangible experience. Analogue parenting works alongside digital parenting for the appropriate, positive and safe use of technology. Analogue parenting empowers you to take back control and put technology in its rightful place.
Children can get all the benefits they need from tech and can learn all they need to know without owning a smartphone or being on social media. Delaying smartphones and digital literacy are not mutually exclusive. In contrast, delaying smartphones is an important part of teaching children the appropriate and safe use of technology for them.
We need to educate ourselves and our children about online risks and we need to know what our children are doing online. We need to make sure children feel comfortable talking to us about anything that might happen online.
1) Delay smartphones and social media.
2) Use filters, parental controls and monitoring apps.
Different filters are appropriate for different ages. There are lots of different parental control applications. All different technology can be overwhelming. Protect Young Eyes provides comprehensive information on parental control options.
3) Talk to other parents.
Keeping devices away from kids during playdates gives the kids a chance to properly connect with each other and spend quality time together.
How do we protect our kids from other kids devices? Its really important to set boundaries around playdates and sleepovers. Check-in with other parents to find out what parental controls they use and rules they have on tech. Ask that any online activity usage is supervised by a parent or that devices are put away.
4) Have difficult conversations with your child.
We need to have open, balanced, shame-free conversations about the pornography our children are likely to see online. We need to catch them before they are exposed to it.
Experts tell us it’s not a case of ‘if they see it’, it’s a case of ‘when’.
Children’s natural curiosity might lead them to seek out answers for themselves online, or with friends who have access to the internet.
Approaching this topic can be very confronting and uncomfortable. Its normal to be worried about talking to your child about sex and the pornography they are likely to see online before they are ready.
Most people would naturally be shocked at the idea of talking to a seven year old about porn. But if seven year olds are online, then we have a duty to warn them.
There are many great organisations focussed on internet safety and digital literacy. Here are just a few:
Connect with parents delaying smartphones in your area and sign the pact at Smartphone-Free Childhood
