Families and technology

Tips for managing, from parenting, children's use of devices and the Internet.

That technology is part of our lives and will not go away, but will evolve faster and faster.It is a fact that we cannot let go and that we have to face up to.

However... How can we adapt to this new reality from education and upbringing strategies applied in the family context?

The implications of the constant use of network-connected devices

The data available to us on the use of technology by our children and adolescents were alarming to say the least. However, However, after the confinement resulting from the coronavirus pandemic, we know that the youngest children use 76% more devices than the rest of the population..

• The time spent by young people on the Internet is equivalent to 136.5 days a year.
• Almost one million girls and boys in Spain are at risk of suffering Internet addiction (out of a total of 4 million).
• 72.7% of boys and girls under 12 years of age have a cell phone.
• More than 35% of the profiles of children under 14 years of age are public.
• Children under 6 spend 2 hours a day in front of a screen, 3 times more time than reading or listening to someone reading to them.

Currently, due to the health crisis, technology has been fundamental to work, study, communicate, do homework... Thanks to technology we have been able to continue functioning. However, the use of screens has increased, the use of screens has increased during quarantine, due to the closing of schools and the impossibility of contact with family, friends... Obviously, this is an exceptional situation where we have all used technology to a much greater extent than we have been doing in the past.

For all these reasons, it is necessary that we should consider how to effectively manage the use of new technologies with our sons and daughters..

The importance of limits

Each family must establish limits regarding the use of new technologies; we must accompany children and adolescents on this digital path..

We cannot not be up to date and leave in their hands the control of the situation. In this sense, we also have many parental control applications that can help us.

In addition, we must establish a digital family plan. How do we start?

Knowing the starting point

The first thing to do is to establish the technological profile of all members of the familyWhat devices we use, how much time we use them, what we use them for, the content we access... In this way we can know the starting point and make an exercise of self-reflection on the use we adults make of technology.

We will then make a diagnosis of the devices we have at home, in which areas of the house they are used, the rules about the use of the different devices at home, if there are parental control applications.This will allow us to know in detail if we are making an appropriate use, if we are abusing or having risky behaviors.

At this point of the digital diagnosis we can establish contracts for the use of devicesWe can find the best educational apps, as well as squeeze our imagination to find plans and activities that we can do as a family without screens.

The digital family plan

Once you know what your family is like and what it can do better, it's time to create your own digital family plan, it's time to create your own digital family plan.. We can put the plan on the fridge and review it and modify it as we develop it.

It is very important that all family members participate and contribute their ideas to this plan. Every family is different, don't be afraid to create your own rules. What works in your neighbor's house may not work in yours.

As general guidelines that we can follow with the youngest children we have:

• The key is to go slowly.
• Children under 3 years of age should not have access to screens.
• From 3 to 6 years old, a maximum of 30 minutes a day related to leisure.
• Choose well the contents, not just because they are on a children's platform they are suitable (for example, Youtube Kids).
• Start with slow-paced applications and programs without too much content.
• Do not let the tablet become a babysitter.
• Accompany, be present and available for our sons and daughters.

And most importantly, remember that as a parent you are a role model for your child, there is no better parental control than that of your child.There is no better parental control than yourself. Awareness, responsibility, respect and a lot of communication.