Parents and new technologies, do you preach by example?
Many parents are clear about the rules that must be passed on to their children in relation to the use of new technologies. But do they apply this law themselves? Do adults preach by example and apply the same advice they give to children?
According to the study carried out jointly by the University of Michigan and San Francisco, and titled Not at the Dinner Table: Parents' and Children's Perspectives on Family Technology Rules, do not. Many parents do not use the same standards that they demand of their children, which is seen by them as an injustice. In addition, an adult who does not follow the advice he asks of the children can lead to conflicts due to lack of family attention.
Establish priorities: children and new technologies
New technologies have not only changed the lives of the smallest of the house, adults have also seen their routine altered by the emergence of smartphones and other electronic devices. However, parents have not stopped to think about what children expect of them in relation to the use of these items.
This study has tried to know the vision that many children have of the use that their parents make of the new technologies. In addition, all of them were asked their opinion about what they would change or what they would ask of their parents in this field. The most usual response was "to meet the same standards as them". For example, do not keep an eye on your mobile screen constantly.
According to this research many parents are immersed in the digital world in full family conversation reviewing news, talking with other people and even playing with your smartphone. Something that according to the participating children is not fair because they see how the norm that they have been asked to comply with is not fulfilled by "the authority", which makes them feel especially annoyed when their parents reproach them for this fact.
How to combine the use of the smartphone and the attention to children
Another issue that bothers children most in relation to the use that their parents make of smartphones is the little attention they receive because of these devices. According to the participants in this study, their parents do not talk to them as much as they would like, and when they have something important to tell, they do not have an ear that listens to them, but fixed eyes on the screen.
In particular, these are the claims that children make to their parents for when they use their smartphones:
- That their parents do not use new technologies in certain social contexts and especially when they are trying to tell them something they consider important.
- That parents do not share information or content as photos without your consent. Many parents send their friends pictures of their children to brag about without their approval.
- Use of new technologies with moderation.
- A compliance guide for the whole family that serves as a parameter to follow.
- No cell phones while driving, not even a brief message taking advantage of the fact that the traffic light is red.
Damián Montero
