Undoubtedly, in recent years, modern technologies have significantly improved the quality of our lives. Thanks to them, we search for information, communicate with other people, shop, and make payments faster and more efficiently. The development of modern technologies also affects the lives and functioning of our children. Whether it turns out to be an opportunity or a threat largely depends on the parents. It is their primary duty to show their children a safe, conscious, and effective way of using modern technologies. Schools also play an invaluable role in media education. Collaboration between parents and the school environment, high media awareness, and personal example will contribute to developing positive habits in children.

Safety

• Regularly remind your child about the rules of safe use of the internet, and familiarize them with potential dangers.

• Ask them to inform you or another close adult if something concerns them.

• Monitor your child’s online activity!

Time

• Clearly define the time (e.g., half an hour a day) for using modern technologies and consistently adhere to it. Remember that long hours in front of a screen negatively affect cognitive functions, memory, and concentration of your child. Uncontrolled use of mobile devices can even lead to addiction!

• Show your child other active ways to spend their free time.

• Never have serious conversations with your child while one of you is using mobile devices.

• Be an example for your child! If you use your phone and laptop all day (for entertainment), don’t expect your child not to protest when you ask them to put away the tablet after 30 minutes.

Conscious use of technology

• Show your child the possibilities offered by modern devices.

• Education: teach them to search and select information, use online dictionaries, go on a virtual tour of a chosen museum together, see the emperor penguin in augmented reality.

• Interests: use maps to see where your idol lives, create a video or collage from vacation photos, program your own game, search online for videos and create, e.g., holiday decorations based on them.

• Entertainment: don’t forbid your child to relax while playing games with friends from time to time. However, remember that the internet offers much more – it’s worth taking advantage of that.

Proper use of modern technologies will be a great opportunity for the child – for self-education, developing interests, shortening the time of many activities. However, this will only be possible with the active involvement of adults who will introduce them to the world of the internet.

Pedagogue Klaudia Sokołowska-Baryś for Marioinex Education