Today, screens are present in almost every aspect of our lives, whether it’s a laptop, smartphone, television, or other devices. Statistics show that children aged 8 to 12 in the United States spend between 4 to 6 hours a day using screens, while teenagers can spend up to 9 hours. This amounts to more than one-third of their day!
Even though there are wonderful learning opportunities with technology, excessive screen time can create many challenges like eye strain, attention deficits, and so on. As a parent, it is your duty to keep the right balance for your kid. How do you let your child reap the benefits of digital learning without overdoing it? Let’s check out some effectiveparenting tips to guide you.
Understanding Digital Learning and Its Features
Digital learning these days is a world away from the old chalk-and-board days. It’s interactive and personalized. Most good schools in Borivali use advanced platforms like Google Classroom and Duolingo to change education into self-paced instruction that caters to a kid’s individuality.
However, excessive screen time can result in shorter attention spans. That’s why the need for parental involvement is getting higher than ever before. Getting familiar with what your child is using is the first step topositive parenting.
Setting Healthy Boundaries with Technology
Excessive screen time can result in tiredness and lower social abilities. That’s why we, at Witty School, a preschool in Borivali, follow a mix of conventional and digital learning so as to reduce its adverse effects on the children.
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics suggests limiting the screen time of kids under 10 years to 2 hours. You can start by setting definitive screen time schedules. Create breaks in between to avoid prolonged screen exposure. Remember, the importance of parenting lies in finding that sweet spot which balances learning and enjoyment.
Promoting Critical Thinking and Responsible Technology Use
Currently, learning how to critically assess online material is an essential skill. So, engage your kids to verify facts and compare opposing views. Digital literacy is embedded in schools, but a parent daily needs to reinforce such lessons at home. Similarly, you must have open communication with the child to let them know about the risks of the internet, such as cyberbullying and misinformation.
Supporting Emotional and Social Development
Excessive digital learning has sometimes resulted in social isolation, where children spend more time with screens and less time with human beings. That’s where parents importance comes in. You must push them to spend time offline engaging in activities such as family game nights or playing outside with friends.
Similarly, parenting guidance can play a big role in improving emotional growth through digital learning. Rather than allowing children to go through online learning on their own, taking an interest asking them questions and engaging them makes their learning experience much better.
Encouraging Quality Digital Content
Not all screen time is the same. Even though there are many apps to educate, some are merely for entertainment. As a parent, you are responsible for providing content that advances your child’s learning process. Seek out platforms that are suitable for their age like National Geographic Kids, BBC Bitesize, etc.
Conclusion
Even though technology has the potential to provide impressive learning opportunities, it requires a proper framework and direction to work at its best. That’s where the importance of an effective school comes in.
At Witty School, we have a well-planned digital ecosystem that makes education more interactive without overburdening them. We have simplified the easy nursery school admission to make it stress-free for parents. Get started now!