Parenting The Digital, Tech, Device And Social Media Generation

Parenting in the digital age is challenging, yet can be interesting, fun and meaningful. Gen Z, Gen Alpha (and Gen Beta) have grown up as digital natives and engaging with technology, devices, online content and social media is just normal. This workshop helps remove the fear out of parenting in a digital world and shows how to engage and purposefully guide children as they grow up in a tech, media and device filled world. This workshop provides practical tips for parents as they nurture their children and teens and help them explore opportunities and navigate challenges of the digital, media rich, online world. We discuss the challenges that exist: distractions, disturbances, emotional disturbances including smartphone separation anxiety, safety concerns, technology addiction, digital footprint, misinformation, online bullying, hateful content, sexting, cyber stalking, scams, etc. We encourage parents to guide children to explore opportunities such as online research and learning, online courses, portfolio building, monetization, and more. We share practical ways families can have media use guidelines (by age group). Strategies parents can carry out to engage with their kids and teens while balancing screen time with other physical, social and cognitive activities. Parents being good role models, encouraging face-to-face communication, creating tech free zones, and tech free times, sharing digital experiences, and have a media use plan for the family.

Parenting-The-Digital-Generation-Good-Practices.pdf

Keywords: parenting, digital parenting, digital age, digital generation, technology, media, device, social media, online learning, screen time, parenting in the digital age, parenting in the age of screens, technology parenting, technology addiction.