Modern education’s pandemic-induced methods are a far cry from the reality of yesteryear. Parents nowadays must juggle many things in addition to their children’s learning and development, all while protocols for many things have been revised. Raising a child is a difficult task, and many aspects of being a parent have changed over the last few decades. Social media can cause parents to question themselves frequently or put pressure on them to have perfect children, but it can also provide parents with an online network where they can seek advice and support. Parents nowadays may prefer to put their children in front of screens rather than allow them to play outside, which was not always the case.
In contrast to previous generations, modern parents collaborate with school teachers, with technology acting as an aid and bridge. While, it could also be the other way around:
Using apps to facilitate education
To ease the transition from offline to online classrooms, parents have been experimenting with various apps and educational tools such as Khan Academy Kids, which offers unique learning programs, and Brainly, which helps with difficult homework questions, among others.
Social media can make parents doubt themselves
Social media can lead to “analysis paralysis,” making it difficult for parents to make important decisions. Social media can have an impact on children, but it can also have an impact on parents by making them feel as if someone is watching and judging everything they do. Several pediatricians say, children’s environmental health advocate and Happiest Baby founder, told Sources that seeing polished, idealized visions of what it means to be a parent on social media can cause parents to seriously question their choices. “[Idealized online posts] can make new moms and dads doubt that they’re ‘doing it right,’ and can lead to analysis paralysis every time they enter a discussion about parenting.
Use of parental controls/Responsible technology use
Technology has altered how children interact with their peers. It is critical for parents to instill the importance of safe browsing behavior by utilizing parental controls such as Qustodio, Kaspersky Safe Kids, and others. Teaching them the importance of online safety and privacy, as well as what digital citizenship entails, will enable them to harness the true power of the internet.
Some parents today may feel compelled to be “best friends” with their children
Some experts believe parents do this to keep their children happy. You’ve probably seen parents post photos of their children on social media with captions like “My best friend.” However, some experts believe that this relatively new urge for parents to feel the need to be friends with their children is not ideal. Furthermore, constantly displaying a parent-child relationship online does not help. According to sources, a former child and family therapist and co-author of “Breathing Space for New Mothers,” told that many adults act like friends rather than parents because they feel guilty about their time spent at work.
They are also expected to be involved in all aspects of their children’s lives
This can also add to a parent’s workload. Some experts argue that in today’s world, parents are much more involved in their child’s life than they ever were before, whether it’s through the use of online systems to track exam grades or long-distance video calls. However, this means that children no longer have the sense of independence that they once did. Adult and child psychiatrists told sources that they believe a large part of this is due to the increased number of rules and regulations that parents believe they must follow in order to get parenting “right.” Parents are encouraged to participate more.
When it comes to keeping track of their children, today’s parents appear to have it easier
Finding your child’s location wasn’t always so simple, and it’s likely that many parents 20 years ago were concerned about their child, especially if plans changed or curfews were missed.
A vigilant parent can keep a close eye on their children thanks to cellphones and modern technology, which can be beneficial in terms of safety.
According to a founder and editor-in-chief of Successful Black Parenting magazine, being able to track a child’s location can “offer some peace of mind” to parents who worry frequently.
Nowadays, parents must pay closer attention to what their children are learning online
It is critical for people to recognize that children face dangers and challenges, such as cyber-bullying, that many older adults did not face when they were growing up. After all, the internet was still in its early stages in terms of developing social-media platforms and chat rooms decades ago. Furthermore, children could not always access the internet via portable devices. Today, however, parents are frequently expected to closely monitor their children’s internet access, which can be a huge challenge. Kids spend more time staring at screens than we ever imagined possible, absorbing incredible amounts of information that is often beyond the control of a parent.
Nowadays, parents must pay closer attention to what their children are learning online
It is critical for people to recognize that children face dangers and challenges, such as cyberbullying, that many older adults did not face when they were growing up. After all, the internet was still in its early stages in terms of developing social-media platforms and chat rooms decades ago. Furthermore, children could not always access the internet via portable devices. Today, however, parents are frequently expected to closely monitor their children’s internet access, which can be a huge challenge. Kids spend more time staring at screens than we ever imagined possible, absorbing incredible amounts of information that is often beyond the control of a parent.
Adapting to changing educational times is essential for today’s parents. With the right techniques, parents can make their child’s learning environment enjoyable, safe, and productive. Having an online network isn’t always a bad thing for parents; it can provide them with more of a platform and allow them to connect with other parents going through similar struggles and successes.