How To Be A Tech Mentor For Your Kid And Not A Strict Monitor

s your kids grow up, they'll naturally become interested in the same things that you're passionate about - including technology. But it's important to remember that you're their parent first and foremost, not their tech mentor.

Here are a few tips to help you strike the right balance:

1. Encourage them to explore

Give your kids the space to explore their interests. If they're curious about how something works, encourage them to look it up or ask you about it.

My son explores and learns to code on Scratch by himself. He gets stuck, he gets frustrated but he goes back again to fix it.

2. Be a resource, not a dictator

Your job is to provide guidance and support, not to micromanage their every move. So, if they come to you with a question, try to answer it without being too prescriptive.

Children don't like to be lectured all the time , so try to have a conversation instead.

3. Help them find their own way

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to learning about technology. So, don't force your kids to learn in the same way that you did. Instead, help them find resources and mentors that fit their learning style.

I struggle to help him when he is stuck in coding etc, but I make sure to find resources for him (online or people) to get unstuck.

4. Encourage them to be critical thinkers

Teach your kids to question everything, including the technology they use. Help them understand that not all sources of information are created equal, and that it's important to verify information before taking it as fact.

if your kid can read articles, tell him about facts, opinions, bias in articles  and how to look for them. They should be able to look at an information with a critical eye and not believe everything.

5. Be a good role model

Remember that your kids are watching you, so set a good example when it comes to technology use. That means using technology in a balanced way, and not letting it consume your life.

I have reduced my habit of mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds, and I am more mindful about the amount of time I spend on my phone in general, I am really working hard to avoid phone usage before sleeping.

6. Help them find a healthy balance

Encourage your kids to find a healthy balance between technology use and other activities. That includes things like spending time with family and friends, being active outdoors, and pursuing hobbies and interests outside of the digital world.

Though most of our work is highly dependent on internet, My son and I reflect our gadget usage at the end of the day and try to give each other a break from the digital world, we talk about our day, read books together or even go out for a walk.

7. Have regular conversations

Make sure to have regular conversations with your kids about their technology use. This will help you stay up-to-date on what they're doing online, and give you an opportunity to offer guidance and support.

8. Keep an open mind

Remember that your kids are growing up in a different world than you did. So, it's important to keep an open mind about the way they use technology. They may surprise you with their creativity and resourcefulness!

Its not fair to judge them and label  them as addicts, we need to be open minded and try to see things from their perspective too. They are digital natives after  all.

9. Teach them about responsible use

Help your kids understand that there are consequences to their actions online. Show them how to use technology responsibly, and help them understand the importance of cyber security.

My son tells me if he receives unknown invitations from game apps, he is conscious not to share his information with anyone online, he is also very cautious about the links he clicks on.

10. Encourage them to take breaks

Make sure your kids take regular breaks from technology use. This will help them stay refreshed and focused, and prevent them from getting too overwhelmed or stressed out.

When my son is  choosing to work continuously they can really tired , So, I encourage him to take a break for atleast 10-15 minutes after every hour. Some times he gets so busy off the gadget that he might change his plan to get back.

11. Help them find other outlets for their creativity

Encourage your kids to express their creativity in other ways, outside of the digital world. This could include things like painting, drawing, or playing music.

I tell my son that its good to use technology to create things but one should not forget the other ways of being creative. So, we try to do some art and craft work together or he might play his favorite song on the piano. Not to forget we play lot of cricket together.

12.Help them be experts- in-training

Encourage your kids to share their knowledge with others. This could mean teaching a younger sibling how to use a new app, or writing a tutorial for their favourite game.

Recently my son introduced couple of English learning apps to his grandmother, she was reluctant at first but now she is progressing well.

13. Encourage them to find their own way

There's no one-size-fits-all approach to learning about technology. So, don't force your kids to learn in the same way that you did. Instead, help them find resources and mentors that

By following these tips, you can help your kids become responsible, well-rounded users of technology. And who knows - they might even end up teaching you a thing or two!

That's exactly what I am doing, rather than being harsh and saying no to gadgets all the time, we are trying to find a balance and be more open minded towards their use of technology. Let them have their own space to experiment and learn.

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