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Collaborative post by another author.
Technology can be a tricky subject for parents. Not only are issues such as screen time divisive but it can be tough to balance the pros and cons. Technology plays an increasingly influential role in our lives. While there may be negatives, there are some incredible advantages for parents. In this guide, we’ll outline some of the main benefits and share tips to help you use modern tech to enhance family life.
Entertainment and spending quality time together
One of the best things about cutting-edge technology is being able to access amazing entertainment at the touch of a button. From TV box sets and family movies to video games and online classics like Chess and Hearts, you can enjoy all kinds of entertainment as a family. Today we can stream shows, challenge each other to virtual card game contests, take on dance battles or snuggle up for a movie night without leaving the living room. Tech brings entertainment to us, making it easy and convenient to spend quality time together. You can choose activities or let the kids decide what to do based on shared or individual interests, where you are and how much time you have. Exercise your brains with a game of Hearts in the car, swap Saturday nights out for a cosy sofa date or set up a video game marathon with friends and relatives.
Embracing tech-based entertainment can make keeping kids occupied and putting smiles on their faces more accessible and affordable for parents. It’s great to be able to mix activities without worrying about the cost. You may decide to book a day out at the zoo or a theme park one weekend and then save money the next with a Friday evening interactive quiz or games night for example. Having access to entertainment at home can also help you maximise quality time together.
Staying in touch with family and friends
The pandemic underlined the awesome benefits of technology for staying in touch with loved ones. One of the most brilliant advantages of embracing modern-day tech is being able to contact almost anyone in the world no matter where they are or what time it is. You no longer have to worry about spending hundreds of pounds making an international call and you can see people’s faces and engage with them in real time.
As a parent, it’s hugely beneficial to encourage your children to see the positive side of technology in action. Make calls, stay in touch with friends and family members and urge them to interact with other people. To get the balance right, it’s best to try to avoid replacing in-person visits, reunions and play dates with calls and messages. A blend of both is great for young people and adults alike.
Making learning and education fun
The term ‘screen time’ is often a trigger for negative adjectives and discussions about the harmful effects of spending too much time on devices. Although excessive use of devices can have negative effects on young people, screen time can be hugely positive. There are many ways to use technology to your advantage, especially when it comes to learning and education. Think of the benefits of online study resources and exercises, TV documentaries, educational videos, and apps and games that are designed to make learning as fun as possible. All ages can benefit from tailored resources that engage children and encourage them to take an active interest in learning.
Online tools and tech-based resources can also be fantastic for parents. Many documentaries and shows that are aimed at kids and teens are enjoyable for adults too and exercises, games and quizzes can also teach adults new things or act as a refresher.
Making education fun enables kids to learn without even realising. Switching up teaching and learning methods can also add variety and help children process and understand ideas, theories and concepts and retain facts, dates and figures. Having access to tech at home can also promote independent study.
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Freeing up time
Most parents would agree that time is a luxury. It’s common for mums and dads to feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. From the frantic morning school run and commute to trying to get everything sorted for the next day while sticking to a bedtime routine, life can get hectic. Technology offers major advantages when it comes to freeing up time. Whether you shop online to save trips to the supermarket with little ones in tow, or you automate settings to regulate security, heating and sound and visuals in your home via your smartphone, technology can help you be more efficient. You can also use voice-activated devices to help you complete tasks hands-free and enlist the services of robot vacuum cleaners or lawnmowers.
When you think about what you want to buy for your home, it’s beneficial to focus on investments that solve problems, enhance your home environment and contribute to family life. If you’re rushing around all the time, for example, simple swaps like doing your food shop online and setting up subscriptions for consumables like washing detergent and toilet roll can make a big difference.
Encouraging creativity
Being creative is beneficial for children for several reasons. Creative activities can help to spark imaginative thinking and encourage development and they also reduce stress levels. Creative hobbies enable young people to express themselves, share ideas as well as to process and manage different emotions. Children can also learn new skills and develop their sense of self.
We tend to think of creative activities as painting, drawing, writing and making things, but there are ways to use technology to drive creativity. Examples include digital art apps, interactive storytelling, using digital cameras to take photographs, online video editing software and apps that encourage kids to draw, paint, animate, write stories, create characters, design new cities, kingdoms, planets or creatures and make movies.
Tips to encourage positive uses of tech in your home
Technology can be both a blessing and a curse for parents. There are incredible advantages to embracing modern technology in family life, but there are also legitimate concerns and fears. Key steps to encourage positive uses of technology in your home include combining tech-based and non-tech-based activities and hobbies, mixing up traditional and new learning and teaching methods, encouraging socialisation both virtually and in person and setting clear guidelines, limits and parameters. It’s also useful to highlight the benefits of tech for your family while outlining the potential drawbacks. Setting a good example is another important step. If your kids see you on your phone all the time, they’ll want to spend all their time on devices too.
Maintaining control as a parent is pivotal to successful tech usage. Use tools to set limits and restrict access to specific apps, resources and websites, monitor screen time and encourage your kids to be open about what they’re doing. Spend as much quality time together as possible and let your child know you’re there to listen or answer questions if they have any concerns about being online. Establishing a routine can be helpful, for example, half an hour playing online or video games, watching TV or using apps after school once homework is done followed by an hour of playing games, doing sports outside or enjoying activities like cooking, painting or crafting.
Technology is one of the most talked about subjects among parents today. There are clear benefits to embracing modern tech, but many parents have concerns. Effective ways to use technology to enhance family life include accessing entertainment at home and spending quality time together, making learning and education fun and keeping in touch with friends and family members. Cutting-edge technology can also help parents free up time in busy schedules and encourage kids to be more creative and imaginative. To reap the rewards of tech, it’s beneficial to set boundaries and establish rules and routines, highlight both the advantages and disadvantages of using tech and urge children to be open about how they use devices and spend time online.
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