Parenting is without a doubt one of the most difficult yet rewarding tasks in life.
When they say it takes a village to raise a child – it is true. Throughout the years, there have been various manuals on parenting techniques.
They could be coming from our grandparents, parents, friends, or even books.
This is the time for parents to mentor and develop their children cognitively, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
In comparison to the past, the digital age now makes it much easier to obtain information because it is available much faster and more easily thanks to the internet and social media.
There are even numerous parenting philosophies that have been developed, including helicopter parenting, authoritative parenting, and modern parenting.
Smart parenting, which can be interpreted in a variety of ways, has become a recent topic in the parenting discussion space.
But, for this article, smart parenting entails utilising all of the benefits of technology to assist you in your parenting.
While technology is, in some ways, isolating parents from their children and children from their parents, a study found that parents can rely on technology to raise their children.
It can be used to help parents not only reconnect with their children but also track their development in the long run.
From family management apps that help with chore scheduling to financial apps that not only track but also teach children about money, there is something for everyone.
These are some of the ways that smart parenting can be beneficial.
1. Smart Parenting Offers Security
Parents can use a variety of apps and technological features to monitor their children’s safety, whether it be online or offline.
For instance, using the Geo-Tracking feature to know where your kids are, or using settings to shield kids from online harm like dangerous apps and links.
2. Take Care of Your Kids’ Health
An app for health is especially useful if your children require medication or nutrient intake reminders.
Aside from that, parents could set a weekly exercise goal for the entire family and get everyone in shape.
It is an activity for the entire family – a chance to reconnect offline, then online.
3. Keep Track of Important Events
When your children are growing up and you are as busy as ever, having a family calendar is essential.
You’d want to make certain that no events are overlooked to ensure that all members of the family feel included rather than excluded.
With an online version, everyone in the family can make changes and schedule appointments at any time of day.
4. Smart Parenting Allows You to Learn More
Parenting becomes more accessible to new and vast information for parents as technology advances.
From life hacks to emotional support, social media has become one of the go-to platforms for parents daily to try new things with their children.
Do you remember how it takes a village to raise a child? Technology has simply made the entire world your village.
So, there’s nothing more to it than making the most of it.
Exercise Caution When Smart Parenting
You’ve probably heard about the downside of technology, and how it pushes closer people away while bringing further people closer.
Therefore, using technology in smart parenting should be approached with caution.
Here are some pointers to keep your smart parenting from going awry.
- Honesty is the best policy – Nothing beats an open and honest conversation from the get-go. For example, children might perceive you are tracking them as an invasion of their privacy and it might be a little late to try to reason with them at this point. Of course, they may come to understand why later in life, but you don’t want your relationship to suffer. Be open and honest with your children about your smart parenting techniques. Inform them of your plans, and ask for their feedback. That would be the “smart” thing to do.
- Be a little more trusting of your children – Yes, you want to safeguard your kids. It encapsulates what it means to be a parent. And, while you do everything you can to keep them safe (both online and offline), it is also important to have them practise safety on their own when they are ready. As the kids get older, engage them in more in-depth discussions to help them comprehend the safety precautions they must take in the real world and give them the chance to put those precautions into practise.
- Nothing beats face-to-face, physical quality time – Always keep in mind that technology is just a tool to assist you in your parenting journey. It’s not the center of it. So, put down the gadgets as often as you can and plan fun activities with your children. Make it a point to show your children that you are there for them, whether it is cooking, going to the park, or doing house chores.
Happy smart parenting!
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