Parents are often angry to see their children spend a lot of time with gadgets. But without realizing it, many parents neglect the rules for accessing gadgets for their children that they make themselves.
This can be seen from the results of the latest Kaspersky study. This security company revealed that 61% of parents find it difficult to be a role model for their children and sometimes even do not follow the rules that have been applied to their children.
At the same time, more than half of parents (54%) are trying to build healthy digital habits and rules for the whole family.
According to Kaspersky researchers, from an early age, children tend to imitate the behavior and habits of adults in all areas of life, including attitudes towards digital devices. In addition, many children have received their first device at a young age.
68% of children receive devices before the age of nine," said Marina Titova, Vice-President, Consumer Product Marketing at Kaspersky.
The survey results also show that parents perceive different behavioral norms for themselves and their children. For example, nearly half (48%) of respondents admit that they spend three to five hours on their device every day, and most (62%) consider this time normal.
For kids, nearly half (48%) spend the same amount of time on devices as their parents – three to five hours a day. However, more than half of adults (53%) want their children to spend less time on their devices, up to two hours.
In some scenarios, respondents considered certain behaviors acceptable for themselves but not for their children. For example, 37% of adults believe that it is normal to share photos of family members on social networks. In contrast, only about 24% of parents think this is acceptable for their children.
As many as 22% of respondents also consider it natural to skip calls and turn off private phones so that no one can reach them. However, only 10% of parents find such behavior acceptable for their children.
"Nowadays, more and more parents are trying to build healthy digital habits such as nutrition and daily physical health rules, etc. But there is no clear enough trend or the most appropriate behavior pattern to establish these digital rules and practices," explains Titova.
The survey results show that most adults (61%) admit to finding it difficult to be a role model and sometimes they don't follow the rules they set for their children.
To help parents build healthy digital practices, there are a variety of techniques and tools available to support them. This includes, for example, role-playing games and games, or for a more technical approach, solutions are available such as apps that can help control screen time or determine the physical location of the child wherever they are.
"Digital consumption shapes the relationship between parent and child, and more importantly, impacts the child's development. Research shows that babies experience eating and sleeping problems, for example when parents use digital media in parallel while caring for
they. This is a serious indication of an incipient attachment disorder," commented Birgitt Hölzel and Stefan Ruzas of the Munich Liebling + Schatz training.
"Kids learn by imitation. That's why you should always consider what they will see concretely. Do parents always have their smartphones in hand even at the dinner table? Don't forget that parents always set an example for their children." he continued.
Hölzel and Ruzas add that we must realize that the smartphone phenomenon has only occurred during the last decade and has become vital in our daily lives. That is why it is often not easy to use it consciously and, moreover, to introduce it to children.
"Our dependence on mobile phones is the reason why it is increasingly important to make this topic a constant discussion. In addition, there are rules of behavior for digital media consumption in families that have been tested and are very helpful for parents. The most important thing for all parents is to keep talking to each other. their children about media use," he concluded.
To help children spend their time on the Internet safely, can
do the following:
Surf and learn together. See where kids are spending time online
and explore the best ways to keep them safe.
Consider downloading a parental control app and discuss this topic
with Kids to explain how the apps work and why they are
need it to stay safe online.
Involve yourself in every online activity of children from an early age, so this
become the established norm, and so that you can guide them well.
