Digital Literacy Parents Need To Understand Their Children

he digital world is constantly changing, and parents of digital natives need to be prepared for the changes. Here are a few things that parents of digital natives need to be ready for:

1. The amount of time that kids spend online is increasing- My son has his sessions on a digital device, and most of his projects are online.

Need: I need to help them manage his time well so he doesn't get too caught up in the online world.

2. The types of content that kids are exposed to are changing- There is so much more content available online than there was even a few years ago.

Need: I need to make sure that my son is only exposed to appropriate content.

3. The way that kids use technology is changing.- Kids need different apps to build their work, and there are networks that they are required to join to learn together.

Need: I need to keep up with the changes so that I can help my son use technology in a way that is beneficial for him.

4. The way that kids interact with others is changing- With the rise of social media, kids are interacting with others online more than ever before.

Need: I need to make sure that my son is positively interacting with others and that he is not being cyberbullied.

5. The way that kids learn is changing. - With the rise of online learning, kids can learn in a different way than they were able to in the past.

Need: I need to make sure that my son is still getting a quality education even though he is learning online.

6. Are kids losing social skills- Are kids becoming too addicted to the devices?We need to make sure that kids are still getting enough face-to-face interaction.

Need: I need to help my son balance his time online and offline.

7. Children falling victim to social dramas- Like kids being bullied, or feeling left out because they don't have the newest devices

Need: I need to help my son be aware of the potential dangers of social media and how to avoid them

There are many questions like this that concern parents of digital natives. With the right guidance, parents can be more prepared for the ever-changing digital world.

Who are Digital Natives?

Digital Natives are people who have grown up with technology. They are used to having technology be a part of their lives. Because of this, they are very comfortable using it and tend to be very good at it.

I picked up this book called Screenwise by Devorah Heitner. It is a great source for parents who want to learn more about the digital world and how to prepare their children for it.

Some of the things that I learned from the book,Screenwise

Don't mistake digital proficiency for good digital citizenship - Just because someone is good at using technology, doesn't mean that they are good at using it in a way that is respectful of others. Though kids can adapt to new online platforms and technologies quickly, they still need guidance on how to use them in a way that is polite and respectful.

Anyone can learn the technical aspects of using an app but true screen wisdom is about relationships- This is something that I want to keep in mind as my son grows up. It is one thing to know how to use an app, but it is another thing to know how to use it in a way that builds positive relationships. The skills kids need are to be able to read between the lines of texts, how not to respond, how to use the context to support their privacy and safety, and so on.

Parents need to be responsible with their gadget behavior - We need to balance our life concerning how much gadget usage is appropriate. We also should try not to use screen time as a babysitting tool but rather, engage with our kids while they are using technology. as families we need to be careful as to how much is going on on social media.

Family policy for the screen in each family might be different - each family is unique and will have different needs when it comes to technology. But we need to have open conversations with kids about what is permissible and what is not.

Give kids that confidence that they can trust you- It is important that kids feel like they can come to their parents with any concerns or problems they have. This way, we can help them navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

Kids have their reasons to use gadgets - We need to be understanding of the fact that kids use gadgets for different reasons than adults do. We should not expect them to use technology in the same way that we do. They use it to create content, share their status with close groups of friends, and use digital journals.

Our kids live in a photo culture- We need to be aware that kids are living in a culture where photos are everywhere. They are constantly taking and sharing photos. Kids take selfies to remember their moments, to share with friends, and to get feedback. You might be surprised but kids are aware of the wide audience on social media.

We need to remember that just because they are using devices for everything does not mean they know everything –

-They might not be sure about handling conflicts with peers,

-Managing group dynamics and their privacy settings.

-The data trail that they may be leaving

-About Plagiarism

The best way to help kids in these situations would be to help them to take better decisions not protect them from everything out there. The approach of parents should be of being a mentor, not a monitor.

We should keep in mind that our kids are growing up in a digital world and we need to be prepared to help them navigate it safely and responsibly.

How to Be a tech positive parent

We need to be positive about the role of technology in our kids' lives. We should use it as a tool to support their learning and development, not as a replacement for human interaction.

Be thoughtful about your own screen time - We need to be mindful of our own screen time and how it might be impacting our kids.

Have clearly defined boundaries and expectations - We need to have a clear set of expectations and boundaries when it comes to screen time. We should make sure that kids understand these expectations and why they are important.

Model respect for other people's boundaries before sharing information about them - We need to teach our kids to respect other people's privacy and not share information about them without their permission.

Social media is not just for consumption it can also be a creative outlet for kids- Like using YouTube to learn a skill, create a project, start a channel, write blogs, and use social media to share photos and experiences from a family trip.

Encourage kids to find their voice and use it for good - We should encourage our kids to use their voices to make a positive difference in the world. They can do this by sharing their ideas, thoughts, and feelings with others.

How to set up kids for success with social media-

Teach kids the power of authentic audience- Many youngsters are going online and selling their digital products and creations. They are using Youtube, Instagram, etc to talk about their products and creations. This is more than writing an essay or creating a project for school.

Encourage creativity and collaboration-  We should encourage our kids to be creative and collaborative when using social media. They can use it to create content, share ideas, and work on projects with others.

Gaming can be a great activity- We should not forget that gaming can be a great way for kids to socialize and have fun. It can also be a way for them to learn new skills and strategies. They can learn to solve conflicts and work as a team. My son learned to collaborate with a friend to clear a level in a game that he was not able to do earlier.

I use the internet to create an activity for my son, finding relevant videos to help him develop perspectives on the subject. It is a great way of supplementing what he learns in school and giving him a different perspective on things. This also shows him that the internet is a great learning resource when used wisely.

Devorah says that parents need to change their mindset from catching their kids doing wrong things to wanting to teach the kids the right things. We also need to be proactive and not just reactive when it comes to our kids and social media.