Can Families Really Use Technology as a Tool For Good?
As parents across the country dive into the new Netflix series Adolescence, conversations about children’s technology usage suddenly feel like they’re cropping up everywhere. The show explores a murder committed by 13-year-old Jamie and, in the final episode, his mother, Manda, questions whether Jamie’s free reign over technology and solo laptop usage were contributing factors.
Of course, this show deals in grey areas, and there’s much more going on with Jamie than simply his laptop use. But, this question does serve to make parents think about how their own children are using technology. By the end, you might be tempted to chuck your kid’s computers altogether.
But would that approach be too simplistic? After all, Adolescence ultimately teaches us that there is no perfect way to parent. While modern-day parents undeniably need to be aware of the risks of things like social media, it’s certainly not necessary to get rid of technology altogether.
In fact, when approached correctly, technology can become a tool for family good, rather than a secretive problem as seen in Adolescence. The question is —how can you make sure that’s the case in your household?
Using Technology in the Right Ways
In Adolescence, Jamie’s technology use is clearly very private, and it’s plain his parents aren’t sure what he’s been doing online. It’s easy to see that and feel shocked, but how many of us are guilty of using technology as a stand-in while we cook dinner, or finish some chores? Even from an early age, kids are often sent away to explore technology on their own. With that being the case, how can we possibly encourage positive technology usage?
We can’t, and therein lies the problem. Luckily, there are ways to overcome this issue, and implementing them when your children are young is one of the most effective ways to ensure a positive approach to technology’s potential.
Namely, parents could benefit from —
# 1 Using technology together
One of the best things parents can do for technology usage is to simply make this a joint activity. Instead of sending your child off to play on a computer or tablet on their own, get into the habit of settling down to enjoy technology together. Just like that, you increase your awareness of what your child’s up to and ensure social and communication benefits that are akin to sitting down and reading a book together.
This is an especially easy habit to get into with younger children, as they won’t yet have developed secrecy regarding their tech usage. They also won’t yet have things like social media that can lead to an imagined need for privacy. You’ll simply be able to sit down together and get stuck into things like educational apps or puzzle games, all while you fundamentally guide that learning.
#2 – Knowledge is Key
A lot of parents are now afraid of technology use and their children, and so try to avoid conversations about things like laptops altogether. The reasoning behind this avoidance is clear, but with technology so thoroughly ingrained in our lives, failing to talk about it simply isn’t practical any longer.
Instead, open and educational conversations are far more likely to have lasting value. Obviously, these conversations should be age-appropriate, but talking about known risks is by far the best way to keep your family safe online. It’s especially worth centring these conversations around things like password safety, the avoidance of inappropriate content, and also simply the need to limit the time we spend looking at a screen. That way, children are more likely to develop healthy tech-led habits from day dot.
#3 – Taking a Balanced Approach
You may well be one of those parents who watched Adolescence and wanted to implement a total tech ban, and who can blame you? Unfortunately, parents who take too hard a stance on technology can also face issues like secretive usage, as well as missing out on potential technological good. Besides this, it simply isn’t practical to go entirely no-screens in an age where all of your kid’s friends will inevitably be using tech.
A balanced approach is a much better option and can see you incorporating technology as an unremarkable, small activity throughout the day. This way, children are far less likely to feel deprived of technologies that they overuse as soon as they get the chance. They’ll also get to use technology in a positive, guided way using this approach, without this needing to be a huge part of the day.
How to Use Technology For Family Good
These tips will undeniably help you to enjoy technology’s potential without its downsides in your home, but it’s also worth thinking hard about the types of technology you use. In truth, there are now a multitude of technologies to choose from, and they all have their pros and cons.
Just a few options for using popular tech in more positive ways include —
# 1 – The Educational Side of Tablets
Few things are worse as a parent than seeing other kids out and about stuck in front of shows on their tablets. While the ability to turn to an on-the-go show when we’re in a squeeze isn’t all bad, parents who stick their kids in front of the tablet just to keep them quiet in a restaurant give us all a bad name. You might even have avoided letting your youngsters have a tablet for this exact reason.
In truth, though, even schools are utilising tablets at this point because, believe it or not, these small devices pack a whole load of educational punch. Tablet-based educational apps are especially worth tapping into and ensure benefits like additional phonics lessons, number learning, and general cognitive or motor skills.
Top apps to consider for these purposes include —
- Khan Academy Kids: The Khan Academy Kids app is designed to help kids ages 2-8 years develop crucial skills including reading, maths, and logic. The app centres around independent learning journeys, and encourages independent learning with the help of five fun characters.
- BBC apps: The BBC has a full suite of apps for all ages, including ‘CBeebies Little Learners’ an educational app aimed towards children ages 2-4. The app explores a range of Early Years skills, including numeracy and literacy, as well as communication, personal development, and exploration.
- Teach Your Monster to Read: There are also plenty of subject-specific apps, such as ‘Teach Your Monster to Read’, which teach phonics skills like letter recognition and word blending that complement the programs used in schools.
# 2 – Laptops for Learning New Skills
As children get older, they often upgrade their tablets for a laptop, and this is where problems can often really begin, with many parents unaware of what their kids are up to. In truth, though, while laptops do open more negative worlds like social media, it’s also possible to repaint usage in light of things like the skills acquisition that laptops now make possible.
Luckily, this is something young people are already often aware of, as they’ve grown up turning to things like video tutorials for any new skill they’d like to learn. Whether they’re keen to master a new game, learn a new language, or learn how to play guitar, you can help your children spend far more productive time online by guiding them towards opportunities such as —
- YouTube tutorials: YouTube tutorials are a cultural fixture at this point, and they can also be a great option for turning your child’s online attention in a more positive direction. After all, they’re far less likely to stumble upon videos they shouldn’t be watching if you’ve got them hooked on, say, guitar tutorials from one trusted creator.
- Online games: Even if your child is too old for educational app-based games, they may still enjoy online games that encourage healthy competition, skills development, and concentration. Unlike traditional video games, many online games now offer a digital version of classics like chess, which also provide benefits including logical thinking, problem-solving, and strategy. With increasing difficulty levels, these games are also designed to see your child coming back, which can be a great way of distracting them from social media’s pull.
# 3 – Technology for SEND Learners
Experts are also increasingly realising the value of certain technologies for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Assistive technologies are especially serving to enhance accessibility in all areas, including crucial educational experiences and forms of socialisation. In this instance, removing technology altogether could significantly hinder experiences that could benefit tenfold from the introduction of technologies such as voiceover screen readers, hearing aid compatibility, and screen magnifiers for reading. All of which can now be found across a wide range of both Apple and Windows devices.
Concerns about childhood technology usage are not only understandable but are also entirely justified in some instances. However, it is possible to turn the technological tides for your family, and this article could prove key to helping you do that.
This is a collaborative post.
