HOW TO RAISE A HAPPY AND KIND CHILD IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Sep 7, 2018 · 3 min read
No, this is not about banning screens, digital detox or making you feel guilty as a parent!

I grew up in the pre-internet era and here I am now, a working mother raising a child in the digital age.
You see, even as a 43 year old, I don’t feel a big disadvantage compared to tech-savvy millennials because I believe that the alpha generation (children born in 2010 and beyond) are the real digital natives. And I’m raising one of them!
This generation is growing up with new technologies like VR and AI which will change all of our lives radically in the next few years.
And for them, the concept and feel of this new technology is more natural than for anyone else.
They are not afraid; they see the potential in it.
My son loves immersing himself in VR, playing Job Simulator or creating with Tiltbrush.
He expresses himself with his own YouTube Channel, creating content to educate and entertain others.
He has a lot of fun texting me with his phone when I’m on a business trip or when I’m just in another room.
He likes experimenting with online tools, customizing photos, sharing his drawings and curating content for his social media channels.
As a parent, I’m guiding him, explaining the technology and how to use it.
We are having meaningful, open conversations on what to do or not to do online and why.
I gave him the phone as a practical tool, so he can stay in touch with me wherever he is and whenever he feels the need to do so.
I will not say to you all that screens and technology are bad for your children, or advocate unplugging at home, cutting the Wi-Fi or hiding all your family devices.
This is clearly not my goal.
It’s a daily challenge raising a child in the digital age. I don’t want to feel out of the game, so I’m constantly educating myself on new technologies and, more importantly, I’m embracing the change.
Yes, sometimes I struggle because I’m not going with the flow of what most education and digital experts are recommending to parents.
But I feel strongly that our kids will have to face big changes in their lives and in their jobs.
It’s my job as a parent to do my best to prepare my child’s mind for tomorrow’s world.
I don’t care about judgement. I’m not at that age anymore.
As a mother, I care about my son and his future.
Besides all the tech talk, one thing I know for sure is this: my son is a happy and balanced kid.
He’s kind and cares for others, has normal manual skills (yes, he can hold a pencil correctly, and knows what do with scissors and paper) and plays outside with his friends, just as we did as children.
Originally published at hautevr.co.
