Posted On: 2023-06-02 10:38:29
1st June has been declared as a ‘Global Day of Parents’ by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2012. The day is celebrated to honour the selfless dedication of parents towards nurturing, caring and raising children.
Parents are the primary and the most critical exposure to children. Children usually adopt the mannerisms and behaviours of their parents. That is why it is important for parents to set an example for their children. However, the digital age has made it important for children to learn technology, but at the same time using technology at such a tender age can pose harmful risks to children. So, the question arises how can a parent raise a moral citizen during the period of digital media?
Raising children differs from culture to culture, and there is no foolproof way to raise children. Therefore, it is necessary to critically think before picking up advice. Because what might be best for a child living in Mumbai, would not be ideal for a child living in Lucknow.
However, we would try our best to offer five pieces of parenting advice for the new generation of parents.
The world is slowly becoming more egalitarian by the day. The rising feminist movement has empowered women, while discussions about toxic masculinity have led many men to open up about their mental health struggles and feelings. However, the rise of new-age hyper-masculine influencers threaten to undo years of progress. These influencers encourage men to be violent while at the same time telling women to be submissive. So, it is extremely necessary to introduce gender-neutral parenting at the earliest stage. Allow your boys to play with dolls or your girls to play with robots. Throw away phrases like ‘Boys don’t cry’ or ‘Girls don’t behave this way’. Breaking such roles will allow your children to look beyond the scope of gender when discussing a crucial topic.
Netflix and other streaming platforms have made it easy for children to access pornographic, sexual or violent content. With a click of a button, children can get exposed to a wide range of media, which is inappropriate for their young minds. The best way to monitor your child’s content consumption is to test the content yourself first. Test the movies and shows that your child wants to watch. Platforms like IMDb have a section for parental guidance, which can also be helpful to decide what content is appropriate for kids to consume. Alternatively, you can also choose to watch movies or shows together. This will allow you to spend quality time with children and monitor them at the same time.
We would not suggest keeping your children away from social media, as it is going to play a pivotal role in the new age to come. It is extremely important for children to learn how to use social media, as it would allow them to grow in the future. At the same time, it is important to keep a check on their social media activity. Social Media Accounts generally only allow users above the age of thirteen, but social media also has a plethora of hateful content, which could hamper the perception of children. Instagram, the leading social media platform for teenagers has introduced a family center, which will help to keep a tab on their activity.
Screens are everywhere around us and there is no escaping it. But, continuous use of screens can have harmful effects on a child. Therefore, it is necessary for a child to indulge in non-screen hobbies. Keep a bookshelf in your household or persuade your child to get into cooking. These hobbies will distract a child from their phones, and will also help them to acquire a new skill.
Empathy is lacking in many adults, let alone children. So many adults find it difficult to relate to others or understand where the other person is coming from. One of the first steps to instil empathy in your child is to empathize with them, don’t discourage them from experiencing emotions like fear or sadness. For Example, “I know that dog can be scary, but it is a nice barking dog. You can hold my hand and walk.” The next step is to talk to them about others’ feelings. For Example “Priyanka is unhappy because you took her toy car. Please give Priyanka back her car, and you can pick another car.” These kinds of interactions will allow your child to develop empathy for others around them.
We hope that this article was helpful and useful for you. Please share this article with all the parents around you. Leave a comment if you have any other advice. Parents can also use Filaantro to crowdfund educational or other endeavours for their children.
Author: Adil Sayyad
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