Five Things to Keep in Mind for Parenting in a Digital World and Strategies to Succeed

In today’s digital world, where screens are everywhere, parents face an increasingly difficult challenge: how do you protect your children’s mental and emotional well-being while also ensuring they grow up digitally literate, safe, and prepared for the future. As we navigate this screen-based world, it’s important to remember that we don’t just want our kids to be tech-savvy. We also want them to have the emotional intelligence, social skills, and mental resilience to thrive.  Keeping in mind these 5 areas, you can start to implement strategies that will help your child succeed in a digital world that changes faster than we can adapt.   

1. Build Mental and Emotional Well-Being

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 32% of youth between the ages of 13-18 have experienced an anxiety disorder. But what’s driving this rise? One clear factor that Gen Z and Gen Alpha experience that many parents did not experience as children is the overwhelming presence of screens.

Too much time on devices, particularly on social media platforms, can contribute to feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anxiety. In fact, studies show that excessive smartphone usage can reduce social connectedness, leading to even more screen time. This vicious cycle only deepens feelings of isolation, further compounding mental health issues.

As parents, we want to raise kids who feel emotionally secure and confident, but the demands of a digital world are often at odds with this. Once parents see the connection between screen time and mental health, they can actively create habits that promote emotional resilience by balancing screen time with regulating, real world experiences.

2. Promote Healthy Relationships and Social Skills

The digital age has revolutionized how we communicate, but it has also come with unintended consequences. A study of 6,000 children and parents revealed that 54% of children feel their parents spend too much time on smartphones. And 32% report feeling unimportant when their parents are engrossed in their screens. Kids thrive when experiencing quality time that cultivatews positive interactions and emotional connection with their parents — things that can easily be sidelined in a world dominated by digital distractions.

Furthermore, studies show that smartphone usage leads to diminished social skills. For example, a 2019 study of 325 teens and adults found that high smartphone use correlates with decreased social connectedness, which then leads to even more phone use. Over time, this limits face-to-face interactions.  In person interactions are crucial for developing empathy, communication skills, and healthy relationships. As parents, it’s important to model balance by prioritizing in-person conversations and connections at home as well as modeling this with your own peers.

3. Cultivate Academic Success

As much as we want our children to be digital natives, we also want them to excel academically. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that kids who spend more than two hours a day on screens tend to score lower on thinking and language tests. In fact, MRI scans have shown significant differences in the brains of children who use smartphones, tablets, and video games for more than seven hours per day. This means that, while digital tools can be beneficial for learning, too much screen time may have detrimental effects on a child’s cognitive development.

Managing screen time and encouraging activities that promote hands-on learning and creativity outside of digital platforms is critical for cultivating academic success and the ability to learn.

4. Foster Digital Literacy, Safety, and Healthy Choices

The digital landscape is an amazing place to make an impact on the world.  But everyone who is making an impact does not always have good intentions. Cyberbullying, online exploitation, and exposure to inappropriate content are all risks children experience when they go online to play video games, watch Youtube videos, or scroll through social media. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, child exploitation online is on the rise, particularly on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Discord. Cyberbullying has nearly doubled from 2009 to 2021, affecting 16% of high schoolers.

It’s vital that we teach our children how to navigate the online world safely and responsibly while also showing them how to use the internet to make a positive contribution to the world. This means having open discussions about digital literacy, internet safety, and the potential dangers that exist before giving access to online platforms.  It also means joining your kids on those platforms, taking an active interest in what they are doing, and cultivating relationships that foster communication.   You want to be their “go to” person when something happens online that threatens their safety. We need to empower our kids to make good choices online, and to recognize when something doesn’t feel right so they seek out trusted adults and learn how to respond.

5. Prepare for the Future: Life Skills, Financial Independence, and Career Readiness

In a digital-first world, we can’t overlook the importance of life skills like financial literacy, self-sufficiency, and career preparedness. A 2024 survey by Quizlet revealed that many high school and college graduates feel ill-prepared to handle basic life skills such as financial planning, cooking, and car maintenance. Nearly 80% of these graduates find financial planning overwhelming, and 29% say it negatively impacts their mental health.

This lack of preparation is concerning, particularly when it comes to instilling independence and confidence in our children. Equipping our kids with the practical skills they need in the real world can mean the difference between succeeding at life in adulthood and living at home indefinitely.

Similarly, students today face a rapidly changing job market, with many concerned about AI and automation replacing human jobs. A survey by Forage found that 65% of students want to better understand how industries and companies work, but only 30% feel equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge. As parents, we can guide our kids to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity — skills that are essential for navigating a technology-driven economy and standing out from other applicants when applying for a job.

The Way Forward: Practical Strategies for Parents

Navigating the digital age with kids requires intentionality and balance. Here are a few simple strategies to help your get on the road to success:

1. Establish a Strong Morning Routine: A structured, screen-free morning can set a positive tone for the day and foster focus and emotional well-being.
   
2. Set Physical Boundaries: Designate screen-free zones in your home to encourage face-to-face communication and creative, non-screen activities.
   
3. Encourage Active, Multisensory Activities: Provide opportunities for your child to engage in activities that stimulate their creativity and physicality, like art, sports, or outdoor exploration.
   
4. Balance Screen Time with Real-Life Interactions: Help your child balance their screen time with meaningful in-person interactions. And lead by example — spend time away from screens to engage in activities that promote well-being.
   
5. Go Low-Tech Daily: Set aside at least one time each day to go “low-tech” — no screens, just real-world connection.
   
6. Don’t Overschedule: Ensure that your child has ample downtime to recharge and engage in offline activities that nurture their mental and emotional health.
   

Raising children in a digital world is no easy feat, but with thoughtful guidance, we can help them navigate this landscape and grow into confident, well-rounded individuals. By creating a balanced environment and fostering real-world connections, we can equip our children with the tools they need to succeed in both the digital world and beyond.

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* This blog was generated with AI support from the book, Stop Telling Me to Limit Screen Time:  Success Habits for a Digital Generation of Kids set to be published later this year.  Click here to be notified when the book becomes available. 

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