Category: Parenting

The advent of handheld tech devices, such as smartphones, has made technology integral to human life. The increased adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), on the other hand, has enabled digital devices to interconnect and communicate over the internet.  These tech developments have had a huge impact on modern parenting.

Keeping your children safe is a lot easier now thanks to technology.

1.  Enhanced security and safety

• Location tracking apps tell you where your child is, any time of the day.

• Smart home security cameras allow you to keep an eye on your home even when you’re away at work.

• Secure cloud storage to keep you data safe.  Backing up and syncing your digital possessions also ensures precious pictures of your family are never lost.

• Motion sensors can tell you when something is amiss in the house, e.g. if your child slips and falls.

• Ambient sensing technology enables you to track the ambiance (pressure, temperature, air quality, etc.) in your home to ensure that your kids are safe.

• Geofencing allows you to create virtual geographic boundaries for your child, so you get alerted whenever the child crosses any of those boundaries.

• Automated alarm systems can alert the relevant authorities in case of a break-in or a fire.

• Digital video baby monitors give you a secure private connection with your baby even when you’re at work.

 2.  Better access to parenting tips and support

If you have any questions about parenting, you can always trust the internet to provide the answers. You can get answers from blogs, YouTube videos, or research articles written by parenting experts. There also exists parenting forums on the internet where you can get peer support from other parents around the world.

Here’s something you’ll like: there are online tools for verifying parenting information you get either offline or on the internet. You can learn more about double-checking the suitability of medications prescribed for your kids by a doctor. This way you ensure that your kids get the medications they need, whenever they need them, and with the accuracy that medical care demands.

3.  Keeping families connected

Busy parents on the move have to work and kids have to go to school. This makes face-to-face interactions in the family unit scarce and far between. Video calling technology is knitting the family unit back together by enabling parents and their kids to “meet” virtually during the day. Not even geographical boundaries can stand in the way of family unity now. Technology has also made it possible for kids to learn from home and parents to work from home. It’s now possible to be a stay-at-home mom or dad and still earn a decent income through freelancing jobs.

4. Fitness Tech

From smart exercise equipment, virtual reality and wellness apps, fitness has gone high tech to provide all the tools your family needs to stay healthy.  Just as learning apps engage kids to learn while having fun, interactive games also incorporate fitness to keep kids on their feet and active instead of sitting in front of a stationary screen for hours.  For the utmost digital experience for your kids, you can consider an Apple Watch or a fitness tracker to enrich their fitness journey.

5. Capturing, storing, accessing, and sharing memories

Smartphones come with advanced cameras, photo editing features, and photo-sharing apps that allow you to document your kid’s life for free. What’s more, cloud storage makes it possible to store and preserve videos/photos eternally. You can access memories stored on the cloud on any device, at any time, and from anywhere on the planet. You don’t need to worry that your phone might get lost with all your valuable memories in it.

6.  Quality family time

Modern gaming apps and consoles allow you to co-play video games with your kid without necessarily being in the same room. You can even play with him/her when stuck in traffic. Video games give you a chance to bond with your kid as you teach him/her good sportsmanship, gaming etiquette, and other life lessons.

Technology has also birthed video streaming services and affordable home theater equipment. You now don’t have to depend on theaters for movies; you can snuggle up with your kid in your home theater as you stream your favorite family movie.

Managing Technology for Desirable Parenting

Excessive use of tech devices can be unhealthy. Children who spend too much time watching TV or playing video games are at risk of developing behavioral and learning difficulties. Unregulated screen time can also lead to obesity due to insufficient physical exercise.

Thankfully, technology gives parents all the tools they need to monitor and regulate their kids’ screen time. You can, for example:

• Schedule screen time using a device management app. You can limit your kid’s screen time for a healthier routine (pediatricians recommend at most an hour daily for kids between 2-5 years). Once the scheduled time elapses, the device locks itself automatically.

• Monitoring device activities using a phone monitoring app. On top of limiting a kid’s screen time, it is also possible to monitor what the kid does on the internet. You get notified when the child downloads an app or joins a platform he/she shouldn’t join. That keeps the child safe from data spies, cyberbullies, and other harmful aspects of technology.

• Installing educational apps. These apps are fun and engaging. They give the kid something constructive to do as opposed to wasting time on undesirable apps.

• Multiple device control technology allows multiple caregivers to monitor what a child does on his/her device. With more eyes on the ball, there’s almost no chance of anything going wrong.

Final word

We’re living in a technology-saturated era; your child will interact with technology one way or the other with or without your approval. Taking a proactive role in the child’s tech life allows you to take charge and strike the right balance of screen time. Remember to encourage the child to exercise and socialize. Over to you, mums and dads!

Today’s kids are the first generation to grow up fully immersed in technology. This has advantages and disadvantages, with an undeniable downside being increased mental health disorders. While technology can be fun for parents and kids alike, there are ties between technology and depression that parents should know about.

The Connection Between Technology and Depression

Recent research found that depression among kids increased by more than 25% in the past decade, leading to lowered self-esteem.

Though there are several possible contributing factors, it’s undeniable that the increased use of technology takes a toll on children’s mental health. The internet is better able to connect us and help us learn, but it’s also a platform for bullying, insecurity and toxic ideas that can be especially harmful to still-developing minds.

Cyberbullying is common among kids online. They often don’t realize the true impact their words and actions have. It’s easy to hide behind a user name and computer screen to make a mean comment or threaten someone else. Kids often bully because they are still figuring out how to handle social situations and feel like being mean will put them at the top of their social ladder. Bullies are often insecure. By tearing someone else down, they can feel better about themselves. Bullying among adults also often happens online, normalizing it for kids.

Social media often shows kids the “best” photos and experiences, making them self-conscious about their appearance and abilities. Fancy filters can erase blemishes, giving kids unrealistic expectations for how they should look. Children often follow the accounts of celebrities they like and don’t realize people are in charge of making them appear glamorous.

Screen time keeps kids from other activities that nurture their bodies and minds. Research shows that the average kid engages in four to six hours of screen time daily. Being sedentary for this long increases the risk of developing depression.

How to Help Kids Avoid Depression Tied to Tech

Several things can contribute to mental health issues, and you can only do so much to prevent them. However, changing your child’s technology habits can reduce or eliminate depression symptoms. Here are some things you can do.

Limit Their Time

Children from 2-5 years old should only have under one hour of screen time per day, and older kids should not be on for more than two. Two hours is also the standard recommended time for adults. Kids under 2 should only have occasional screen time.

Even if you set a timer, they might have more exposure than you realize. Televisions in the background of other activities can catch their eye, and unattended devices could lead to sneaky behaviors. As easy as it can be to hand your child a device while trying to do something else, another distraction could preserve their well-being.

Encourage Physical Activities

Getting your kids moving distracts them from technology and can improve their physical and mental health. Research shows that regular exercise can help prevent and treat symptoms of depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Children are more motivated to exercise when they do something they love. Sports, dancing, martial arts or just playing outside encourages them to enjoy themselves without using technology. Many sports teach children important life skills without them knowing it, such as responsibility, honesty and emotional control.

Teach Them About It

It’s important to monitor your child’s social media use, but you can’t protect them from everything. Between school and extracurricular activities, they’re likely to see or experience mean or inappropriate content. One of the best things you can do is teach your children about what they may encounter.

Everyone wants to protect their kids, but it helps to tell them about cyberbullying, filters and photo alterations, different morals and beliefs, and responsible posting. That way, they’re equipped with the knowledge to confidently navigate television, video games, internet searches and social media. They can better understand what enriches them and what doesn’t when they guard their hearts and minds against negativity.

Helping Kids Use Technology Wisely

The connection between technology and depression in children is hard to ignore, but that doesn’t mean you should ban it. These days, kids need to know how to navigate the vast amount of content and connections made through tech. Limiting their time and equipping them with the right mindset and life skills reduces their risk of mental health conditions now and in the future.

Author bio:  Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She strives to live a happy and healthy life with her family by her side.
Follow Cora on Facebook and LinkedIn.

When parents separate a parenting plan becomes one of those essential, but often neglected, things to help both parties navigate the care of their children.  It takes a less than ideal situation and breaths hope into the future. It creates order and brings security to the child because their wellbeing is always the first priority when done properly.

A parenting plan can help set forth the rules and regulations for how you and your ex-spouse will co-parent your child. It can also help resolve disagreements and disputes between parents. If you are considering creating a parenting plan or have already created one but are having problems implementing it, you should consider meeting with a lawyer.

Just as important is accessing the living arrangements of the child, a parenting plan determines the rules and regulations of how you and your ex-spouse will co-parent.  It will help resolve disagreements and disputes that may arise. It can be a complicated matter, so you may want to consider consulting a lawyer to do it properly.

If you have questions about parenting plans or other family law matters, consider contacting a professional that specializes in family law. They can help you protect your rights and the rights of your child.

What Should Be Covered in a Parenting Plan?

A effective parenting plan may cover a variety of issues.  As mentioned, the child’s wellbeing should be at the forefront of all discussions.  From there, the best compromises can be made resulting in the least harm to both families involved.

Issues to be added to the parenting plan include:

• Custody and visitation schedules
• Holidays and special occasions
• Transportation arrangements
• Communication methods between parents
• Structure for Decision making
• How discipline will be handled
• Financial responsibilities

No family is the same.  Every child has a different level of needs.  Modifications can be made if the parenting plan is not working properly in certain areas as time progresses. This includes new needs that arise as children grow.

If you and your ex-spouse get along well and can communicate effectively, you may not need a detailed parenting plan. However, if you have a more contentious relationship, a more detailed parenting plan will be beneficial.

The Importance of Creating a Parenting Plan

A parenting plan is crucial because it can help reduce conflict between parents. It can also provide stability for children.

A parenting plan can also help prevent child custody disputes from escalating into legal battles. If you and your ex-spouse can agree on a parenting plan, you may be able to avoid a costly and time-consuming court battle.

In addition to addressing the immediate needs of your child, a well-crafted parenting plan can lay the foundation for long-term stability. For those navigating more complex familial landscapes, the assistance of a Long Term Care Planning Lawyer can be invaluable in ensuring all aspects of your child’s future are considered. By integrating professional legal advice, parents can create a robust framework that supports their child’s evolving needs over time, thus offering peace of mind for both parties involved.

Of course, even if you have a parenting plan, there is no guarantee that conflicts will never arise. However, a well-crafted plan can help minimize the gravity of disputes. Simply put, a parenting plan provides a roadmap for resolving disagreements, not how great or small.

Essential Factors to Consider when Creating a Parenting Plan

There are many factors to consider when creating a parenting plan. However, some of the most important include:

• The age of your child
• Your work schedules
• The location of your homes
• Your child’s schooling
• Extra-curricular activities
• Religious upbringing
• Holidays

Securing your child’s future stability and well-being should be your top priority when creating a parenting plan. That said, it is also essential to consider your needs and interests.

Because kids need both of their parents for love, nurturing and to feel affirmed and accepted.  The parenting plan ensures each parent can spend ample time with each child involved.  It may not be equal time due to work hours of each parent, but it can be stress free quality time as laid out in the plan.

Receiving Help from an Experienced Family Law Attorney

Creating a parenting plan can be challenging. However, it is a structured way to discuss and pay out what life will look like for your family.  There are many variables and things get even more complicated when blended families are in the mix.

A family law attorney has experience to guide you thought the pitfalls that many couples face when beginning the frame work for their own parenting plan.  Legal help can also help to protect the rights of everyone included, including your child.

When Should A Parenting Plan Be Put In Place?

A parenting plan should be discussed and implemented whenever there is a change in the custody arrangement. This could be due to a divorce, separation, or the death of a parent. A parenting plan can also be created even if parents have never been married.

It is important to remember that a parenting plan doesn’t need to be only for parents getting divorced. It can be a good idea for any couple to have a parenting plan, especially when there is natural conflict within the family. Even if parents great along great, a child may be challenging to deal with throughout the stages of their own life.  This will help ensure everyone is on the same page regarding child-rearing decisions.

A parenting plan can also be helpful if one parent plans to move out of state. Even if both parents agree on the move, it is still a good idea to have a parenting plan in place. This will help ensure that the child’s needs are still being met even if they live in two different states.

Final Words

Planning and securing a child’s welfare and future is essential for all parents. A parenting plan can be a helpful tool in ensuring that a child’s needs are being met even if the parents are no longer together.

For more guidance, speak to a proficient family law attorney if you have any questions about parenting plans or other family law matters.

Facing issues related to having your own children, read how safe surrogacy is for your future-child.

It’s easy to fall into unhealthy habits as a teenager. Whether it’s hormones, managing new emotions, or something else teens navigate, finding anything to cope, whether healthy or not, is common. But guiding your teen toward a healthier, more productive lifestyle is one of your greatest responsibilities as a parent.

In this way they’ll able to healthily cope with whatever life throws at them.  Implementing a healthy home routine with your teen is a good first step.

A healthy home routine benefits your teen in various ways.   Let’s explore some of the most significant below.

The Benefits of a Daily Routine for Your Teen

Your teen needs a daily routine in their home life. Without one, they’ll miss out on developing key skills and traits that will help them flourish now and in adulthood. These skills include:

• Discipline
• Consistency
• Confidence
• Independence
• Self-care
• Responsibility

A daily routine also establishes a sense of security and comfort in the home. They know what they can expect at home. They can rely on opportunities to grow and care for themselves in a way they can’t outside the home.

Moreover, a home routine helps your teen live healthier. They’re on a regular sleep, exercise, and eating schedule that supports their mental and physical health. In addition, they do activities that restore them emotionally.

A healthy home routine is highly beneficial for your teen and mustn’t be overlooked.

Tips for Implementing a Healthy Home Routine With Your Teen

Getting a restless teen on the road to a healthier and more productive lifestyle is a significant challenge to take on. But these tips can help you implement a healthy home routine with your teen without it being overwhelming.

Involve them in the process

Your teen will be much more likely to adhere to a routine if they’re involved in creating it. Involve them in the process from the beginning.

Before you actually develop the routine, sit down with them and have a conversation about why you want to implement one. Help them see the benefits of a healthy home routine and reassure them it isn’t a punishment.

Once you’ve had this conversation, move forward with designing their routine. Ask them what they want to include in it. Compromise on the activities they aren’t crazy about. Attach times to each activity. And talk about how you’ll adjust their routine when needed.

Establish core morning practices

Your teen’s home routine must start in the morning. A good start to their day is imperative to ensuring the rest of it goes just as well. Establish core morning practices that will help prepare them for school or whatever they have planned for the day.

Core morning practices can include:

• Waking up and stretching
• Reciting affirmations
• Picking out an outfit to wear
• Eating a healthy breakfast
• Gathering what they need for the day
• Taking a shower and performing personal hygiene tasks

Anything else essential to a good start to the day — add it to your teen’s morning practices.

Add some responsibilities to their routine

It can’t be all fun and games in your teen’s home routine. Adding some responsibilities to it is a must if you want them to develop the skills and traits mentioned above.

Start with homework. Block off a couple of hours for homework and eliminate distractions during this time. Daily chores are also essential to include in their routine. You don’t have to load them up with a huge to-do list. Instead, choose a couple of chores that are challenging yet doable for your teen. Some examples include:

• Doing their laundry
• Picking up their room
• Taking the dog on its daily walk
• Taking out the garbage
• Doing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen

Don’t shy away from adding responsibilities to your teen’s home routine.

Make sure they feed their souls

Yes, chores and homework are important. But so are activities that feed your teen’s soul. In other words, your teen’s routine should include activities they’re passionate about, that help them find their authentic self.

For example, your teen might enjoy gaming. Gaming is a great way to develop their cognitive ability, socialize, have fun, and unwind. Allocating some time to gaming in their home routine is a good idea. So long as it’s only some time.

It’s essential to help your teen establish healthy gamer habits if they want to incorporate gaming into their routines. This means setting a time limit for gaming, supervising their play, and understanding the signs of when gaming is becoming unhealthy.

Let your teen choose a few activities to include in their routine that they really enjoy. And make sure there are healthy boundaries around how they enjoy these activities.

Develop a night regimen

One of the most important parts of your teen’s home routine is what they do at night. It’s so important for them to get a good night’s sleep each night. Their body and mind have time to recover. A good night’s rest also sets the tone for the next day.

Include a bedtime regimen in your teen’s home routine. Create the best sleep environment in their room. Choose a concrete time for lights out. Make sure they brush their teeth and wash their face. Limit screen time well before bedtime. Finally, add a relaxing activity like reading or meditating to their night regimen.

Make sure your teen ends their routine with practices that help them achieve a good night’s sleep.

A healthy home routine for your teen is integral to their growth. Consider the tips above when creating one to ensure it’s as impactful as possible.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.