At its core, parenting hasn’t changed that much in the last thousand years. Parents all over the world still want to raise healthy and happy kids and help them become functioning adults with their own families and kids. However, how we achieve these goals has changed a lot, especially due to digitalization, computers and smartphones. So how does technology affect parenting and how it can be used by both parents and kids to grow and develop?
Access to unlimited information
Probably the most obvious benefit of the Internet and smartphones is that both parents and kids have access to a world of information in a heartbeat. Once upon a time, kids and parents would only learn from sources that are near them—parents, friends, school, neighborhood, books, etc. While these are all great sources of information, they are not always practical. But with the digitalization of information and the Internet, kids and parents can learn easier than ever.
With unlimited access to materials and other people, it’s possible to discover new things every day. Many schools and parents today employ LearnOBots and use their platforms to educate their students and kids on Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics, which helps kids gather valuable knowledge and skills for the 21st century. And with technology, it’s much easier to monitor every child’s progress and assist their growth.
Better language skills
While many people think that computers and smartphones actually prevent kids from using speech correctly, that’s not entirely true. The fact that kids can use their computers and smartphones to find all about certain topics drives their desire to learn. To access information online, it’s necessary to type in words or use voice search. Then, it’s necessary to read the content or listen to information provided by digital assistants.
In time, these digital resources will allow kids to improve their written and spoken word, express their ideas better and evaluate the information they receive. Their language will improve, and they will become more skilled at finding the information they need.
Sharing tips and experiences
Parents have always shared tips and tricks concerning parenting, but their world used to be limited to their neighbors, friends, family members and colleagues. However, today, parents can consult with each other no matter where they are in the world. Thanks to Mumli motherhood app, parents can share tips on how to raise healthy and happy kids, how to prepare interesting meals, where to go shopping for the best kids’ items, how to solve different issues with children, etc.
With access to thousands of other moms in the same situation as you, you can soak up a whole new world of parenting information, learn from other’s mistakes and be the best parents you can be.
Hand-eye coordination
Today, there are countless educational apps that are kid-friendly. No matter the objective, apps require kids to follow objects, click on them to interact and move figures and characters around the screen. All of these movements help exercise their hand-eye coordination and special awareness. The process of holding a phone with an app is also beneficial for their little hands. With apps, kids also learn how to interact with different systems. For instance, pressing a certain button results in a certain action.
Problem-solving
When it comes to educational apps, many of them are fully interactive, allowing kids to solve all sorts of puzzles and problems. This naturally exercises their problem-solving skills in a fun and kid-friendly way. Going through levels and advancing in these puzzle games fills kids with confidence and motivates them to think harder and smarter about problems around them.
Plus, the simple process of using a smartphone with apps is making kids more adept at problem-solving because it’s a common occurrence for apps to crash, experience connectivity issues and cause problems—getting an app to work properly can be a puzzle in itself.
Staying in touch with kids’ education
Many schools today have school apps that allow parents to get a better insight into their kids’ education and school behavior. Thanks to easy access to all school information, parents might choose to be more engaged. Apps encourage them to take part in events, monitor vital information, and take better notice of how their kid is doing in school. With these school apps, parents are learning how to take a better interest in their kids’ education and how to offer better support to their little ones.
Social media is not all bad
It’s more than okay for your teen to be present on social media. Maintaining and discovering online relationships is a healthy stage of development. When used correctly, social media can help teens (and parents) discover many new things about themselves and find their place in the wide world. Through social media, they can interact with real people from all over the world, see in real-time new events and learn about new phenomena as they occur. However, you as a parent need to make sure your child is behaving appropriately on social media apps. It’s a smart idea to remind your kids that nothing is 100% private online, and everything they share, say, and search online can become a part of their digital past forever. Make sure to communicate freely about online stuff so your kids will come to you with their questions and concerns.
Of course, apps and other digital content have their cons, but if parents monitor their kids’ behavior online and limit screen time, apps can become their best parenting pal. Through digital content, kids can learn many new things about themselves and the world and parents can become much better at parenting.
