Raising Children in this Internet Age

As the age of technology progressed, domestic responsibilities have also become a little bit more complicated.  Also, children rapidly grow with the existence of the Internet, iPod, PSP, Xbox, and the likes. Because of these, the space within the household becomes wider that communications between parents and children have also become lesser. There are times that parents rely mostly on the presence of these electronic gadgets that tend to “give comfort” to their children in relative to the absence of parents from home. Although, exposure to this latest technological innovation is helpful in raising children, too much of these gadgets, however, is not a good thing.

Some studies have shown that violent computer and PSP games have triggered the violent outbursts of children in dealing with fellow children. Stuff such as punching, kicking, revenge, stealing, etc. can be acquired with too much exposure of violence over the Internet or computer games. Hence, parents should be mindful of what their children are doing over the cyber world.  They might not notice it but their children can be a hold prey of the adverse effects of the digital world.

Below are some reminders that parents should put into the mind in raising their children in this Internet era.  It should be noted that raising kids is not only about the parents’ ways, but it also deals with the kind of surrounding and time that their growing children are in.

Block websites that are not good for your children.  Internet at home should have restricted access.  Although it is not a hidden fact that the Internet is a boundless venue for information surfing and entertainment hopping, still there are sites that can be blocked from certain users.  It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure that websites, which are inappropriate for children’s visits, should be blocked in their household internet system.  Websites that promote violence and indecency should be out from children’s reach.

Avoid violent PC games.  Exciting and trendy it might sound, but still violent PC games have more negative impacts to your children than the advantages these games have.  It teaches children to be resentful and violent.  Instead of these kinds of games, parents should introduce more cerebral games such as a puzzle, Sudoku, minesweeper, and the likes.

House rules.  Parents should be strict in implementing house rules – and this includes the usage of computer and the Internet at home.  It cannot be avoided, though, that children use the Internet for school requirements; but, still parents should monitor the frequency of Internet use because their children might not be doing school work anymore in the computer.  Most of the time spent in the Internet is just for online games, social networking and entertainment news.

Quality time.  Last but not the least – parents should spend more quality time with their children instead of relying to technology and Internet giving “comfort” to their children. There is nothing as comforting and reassuring than the warmth of a parent’s hugs.