Parent-child bonding in the age of digital tech

We remain so busy protecting our children against the pitfalls and dangers of the connected world, that we often overlook the bonding possibilities digital technology offers. Digital devices, online platforms and apps can help parents and kids connect and collaborate, become aware, create, learn and share. It’s a great opportunity to get to know each other, and making full use of tools that can give a big lead in today’s competitive world. Here are a few simple tips to get you started.  

Keep pace with your kids if you want to advise them 
We can help our kids if we stay relevant to them. Start by taking the time to get to know the kind of world they are growing up in, and understand its challenges. Why is losing in a group video game important? Why do Instagram photos need refreshing? Understand the technology, and you will be able to see the world from the child’s point of view.  

Put your experience of the world into use for the kids 
Kids have a lot of knowledge when it comes to gadgets and the web. But as parents, we have a greater experience of how people think and have seen more of the world. As our kids move towards adolescence and adulthood, they deal with others in a virtual world for which they may be technically ready, but emotionally still immature. A parent who understands Facebook well, would also be able to help a teen dumped by a Facebook friend. 

Play around in the digital world with kids 
Take the time to play with kids and their devices. Taking an active interest in their digital playground will give us a whole new perspective about what they enjoy. We get the advantage of staying updated with interactive technology, and bond while enjoying a family evening playing a special VR game, or building a new website. When we play around, we realise the dangers lurking under an attractive app first hand. That will also put us in a better position to monitor and warn kids about digital dangers.