Parent's Guide To Digital Parenting

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In today’s digital age, parents have the important responsibility of guiding their children through the online world. From understanding digital citizenship to setting up parental controls, "digital parenting" means equipping kids with the knowledge and skills to safely navigate the internet, manage screen time, and use technology responsibly.

Here’s your basic guide on key aspects of digital parenting, including digital citizenship, data privacy, parental controls, online learning, screen time management, as well as practical tips to ensure a balanced and secure online experience for the children.

Read Also: Why Filipinos Desperately Need A Guide To Raising Kids In A Digital World

Digital Citizenship : Teach kids to use tech responsibly

Digital citizenship involves teaching children how to engage in the online world respectfully and responsibly. This includes understanding the impact of their words and actions online, respecting others, and being mindful of cyberbullying, digital footprint, and online safety.

How to be responsible digital citizens

Have respect for others. Encourage kids to communicate online as they would in person, treating others with kindness and respect.

Be aware of cyberbullying. Teach children to recognize and report any form of cyberbullying, whether they experience it or witness it. It is defined by UNICEF as a form of "bullying using digital technology in the form of spreading lies via social media, hurtful or abusive messages, images or videos, on online platforms and impersonating someone through fake accounts."

Read Also: A New Parent's Guide to Raising 'Digital Natives'

Protect digital footprints. Emphasize that the things they post, share, or comment on create a lasting online presence. A digital footprint can be used to track a person’s online activities and devices.

Fact-Check. Encourage kids to think critically about the information they see and share online. Teaching them how to distinguish credible sources from unreliable information is invaluable in today’s internet landscape. If they’re unsure if it’s “fake news” or not, better leave it then.

See Also: Understanding Digital Citizenship And Responsible Internet Use

Data Privacy: Safeguard your kids' personal information

Data privacy is essential in a world where personal information can be easily accessed, shared, or even exploited online. Teaching kids the importance of keeping their personal data private can protect them from identity theft, targeted ads, and privacy invasion. It is vital for them not to reveal their home or school address, current whereabouts, photos, videos, and the like to people they barely know. 

UNICEF report highlights the harms of life online which can be summed up into four key concepts:

• Traditional dangers (bullying, for example) and new forms of child abuse and exploitation, such as made-to-order child, sexual abuse material, self-generated content, and broadcasting of live sex abuse;
• End-to-end encrypted platforms and the Dark Web;
• Loss of privacy. Children are vulnerable and less likely to understand the risks and when risk turns into actual harm for children;
• Without proper safeguards, the world’s most disadvantaged children who are trying the internet for the first time will face even greater risk.

Safeguard your kids’ information by following practical tips below :

• Tell them how powerful the internet is and how one post can last a lifetime.
• Teach them to be careful when sharing photos and videos.
• Teach them to create strong and unique passwords.
• Teach them about secured URLs. (an “s” at the end of url that starts with “http”)
• Talk about phishing, scams, and apps that request access to photos and contact information.
• Educate them to be wary of the things they click, install, or download, on their gadgets.
• Teach children to spot red flags like if somebody is asking for personal information.
• Talk about privacy in a language that they would understand.

See Also : 8 Tips On Teaching Data Privacy To Kids

Parental controls : Tools to protect your kids

Parental controls can be a valuable resource for parents to help monitor and control their children's online activities. These tools can help limit access to age-inappropriate content, set screen time limits, and provide a better sense of what children are doing online.

Types of parental control

Device-based Controls. Modern devices such as smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles come equipped with built-in parental control features. Parents can customize settings to limit app usage, set time restrictions, and filter content based on age ratings, adapting controls to fit their preferences.

App-specific controls. Parents can also set controls within apps such as YouTube, Youtube Kids, Messenger Kids, Instagram and other social media platforms. These controls can filter out explicit content, disabling comments, or limiting app usage during certain hours. 

See Also: Enabling Google Parental Controls Through Family Link App: A Guide

Screen Time Management. Tools like Apple’s Screen Time, Google Family Link, and a range of third-party apps allow parents to set daily device usage limits, enforce downtime, and monitor app usage patterns. Parents can customize daily screen time limits by setting specific hours and minutes, while some families also set household rules, such as no phones after 8 PM.

Location Tracking. Many parental control apps include GPS tracking, enabling parents to monitor their child’s location in real-time as long as the device is on and connected to the internet. This feature can be invaluable for ensuring a child’s safety—such as checking if they’ve been picked up by the school service or confirming if and when they arrived home. Parents can also use “Find My Device” for Android or the “Find My” app for Apple devices for added tracking options.

See Also: Basics Of Parental Controls: A Parent's Guide

Online learning: enhancing the educational experience

With online learning becoming more prevalent, with kids’ asynchronous classes now done through learning apps or computer based systems, it’s important for parents to support children’s digital education effectively.

From understanding the structure of online platforms to establishing a healthy study routine, guiding your children through the online learning process can be a breeze.

See Also: Whether You Like It Or Not, Your Child Is A Digital Citizen. Here's How To Raise Them To Be Responsible

Tips for enhanced online learning experience

Allot study space. Set up a quiet, well-lit, dedicated learning space for kids free from distractions to encourage focus and productivity.

Time management. Help kids create a schedule for online learning, ensuring they take regular breaks to avoid screen fatigue.

Take time to be familiar with the school's learning platforms. Familiarizing yourself with the platforms kids use for online learning can help you assist your children with any technical challenges they may face.

Monitor Progress. Regularly check in on their progress and communicate with teachers if needed, as online learning may not offer the same level of in-person oversight.

Read Also: How To Limit Your Child's Gadget Use When He's Had Unlimited Access

Managing screen time: practical strategies

Digital parenting involves maintaining a balanced approach to screen time and technology use. It requires not only setting rules and boundaries but also engaging in open discussions with your children.

Strategies in managing screen time

Set Screen Time Rules. Create family rules for screen time that apply to everyone, such as dining table is a no-gadget zone, only 1-2 hours of screen time a day, or no screens before bedtime.

Lead by Example. Show your kids what balanced tech use looks like by modeling it yourself—limit your own screen time and spend quality time together offline.

See Also: Parents’ Screen Time Can Affect Children’s Development Too, New Study Finds

Engage in Conversations. Talk openly with your children about the apps, games, or websites they enjoy. Being interested in their online experiences can foster trust and make it easier to set boundaries.

Encourage Offline Activities. Balance screen time with offline hobbies, such as sports, arts, reading, or family outings, to promote a well-rounded lifestyle.

Read Also: Tiisin Mo Lang: Rica Peralejo On How Parents Can Establish Healthy Limits On Kids' Gadget Use

Navigating the online world for parents and kids

Digital parenting continues to evolve as new technologies, platforms, and online innovations continue to emerge: there's just no stopping it.

By teaching children about digital citizenship, data privacy, and responsible tech use, us parents can equip them with the skills needed to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. Setting parental controls, supporting online learning, and educating our children about potential online threats can help build a foundation of trust and understanding, allowing children to thrive both online and offline.

If Screen Time Is So Harmful, Why Can’t Parents Stop? Find out in this article.