The amount of technology kids are born into today is truly mind-boggling — for our generation, we didn’t get smartphones, flat screen TVs, and social media until well into adulthood. We had a leg up on our own parents when it came to early internet like AOL and portable CD players, but the gap wasn’t nearly as huge.
Gen Alpha, on the other hand, knew how to intuitively navigate smartphones when they were tiny. Because of this, parenting in a digital age can feel super overwhelming for parents! It can feel hard to catch up when your kid seems born with abilities it took you years to master. But fret not — we’ve got some proactive tips to help you understand technology so you can keep up with you child.
Give Yourself a Little Grace
Being tech-savvy doesn’t automatically make you the world’s best parent. Some people simply have had more exposure to tech thanks to school, their job, or simply a natural affinity for it. And to be fair, tech has been changing at lightning speed for a while now — it’s hard for almost anyone to keep up! (Here at Bark, it’s our job to know about the latest devices and apps, and even we’re surprised by new, late-breaking developments sometimes!)
Get Curious
You’re already demonstrating your curiosity about your child’s digital world simply by reading this post, so good start! Now, we know you may not be personally invested in the latest skibidi toilet video or yet another Mario game for the Nintendo Switch, but your kid may be — and it’s important to know what they’re into. Because the more you understand what they’re doing and why, the more you can learn how to help protect them.
We recommend shadowing your child for a day on their devices. Sit down with them when they play games and watch videos. Ask questions (though they may say you’re being “cringe”). Later on, you can google what they’re into and I guarantee there will be tons of content for you to read (or for the time-crunched) to watch.
Equip Yourself with Knowledge about Today’s Technology
This may sound daunting, but there’s a whole community of parents and organizations online that are constantly pumping out content to help educate families — including us! Here are some great places to start:
Parenting in a Tech World
Our Facebook group is the go-to place for parents to ask questions, give support, and learn about all the issues facing kids today. You’ll find you’re definitely not alone.
Protect Young Eyes
Chris McKenna is a passionate and dedicated thought leader that provides parents with tons of resources to learn about digital safety for kids.
Our parent resources
Curious about an app or a TV show? We’ve got you covered with our parent-friendly reviews that will give you the quick low-down on the safety and appropriateness of everything from social media platforms and podcasts to books and movies. Common Sense Media also has great reviews for parents looking for media deep-dives.
Our slang guides
So much of how kids speak today comes from text messaging and popular trendy apps like TikTok. Stay on top of the latest words, phrases, acronyms, and emojis with our slang guides.
Our Overwhelmed to Empowered email list
Whenever our experts speak to parents at in-person events, they mention wanting to keep learning about all of the parenting-in-a-digital-age things out there. We listened! That’s why we now offer our email list that sends helpful tips straight to your inbox — no ads or spam, ever. Sign up for our free Overwhelmed to Empowered list if you want this kind of intel.
Go Old-School With Screen Time Boundaries and Stick to Them
This one sounds like a catch-22 — how do you set screen time boundaries if you’re not sure where to start or if your kid is a whiz at getting around digital restrictions? (More on that later, but the Bark Phone is the absolute best option when it comes to managing all of your child’s phone activities.) Well, you can start with physical boundaries. This can look like creating tech-free zones (like the bedroom and bathroom, or the dinner table at supper time). You can also designate tech-free times, like overnight and during homework time.
As you learn more about parental controls, you’ll discover options that will make screen time management easier — like apps that automatically block websites and games during pre-set hours so your kid can focus. Apple Screen Time and Google Family Link are free options that do this, but Bark’s screen time is more robust and way more granular.
Recognize the Benefits of Tech
Taking a growth mindset to tech can help you approach it more positively and understand all of the benefits it provides — both for you and your child. It may seem overwhelming right now, but you are capable of understanding new technology
And as you learn more about tech, you’ll see that it gives you a way to connect and grow closer with your child. This can be as simple as getting peace of mind from location tracking, which is something our generation definitely didn’t have.
And as for your kid, they’re getting to do amazing things like FaceTime grandparents across the country, message you in emergencies, and access movies, music, and games any time they want. They’re also learning new things online, playing educational games, and more.
Use Parental Controls
When it comes to parental controls, your best option will be Bark — we pioneered advanced content monitoring in 2015 and each and every year our technology gets better and better. We have an app that lets you not only get alerts for potential dangers, but also manage screen time, block websites, and track location.
But if you’re looking for something that really puts you in the driver’s seat, the Bark Phone is hands-down the best option because it’s got tamper-proof controls. It’s also completely customizable — you decide what your child can do at all times.
When you first get started, you can choose the starter plan, which is talk and text only with no internet or apps. As they start demonstrating responsibility, you can gradually add in features (and roll them back at any time). Helping to keep everything in check is Bark’s monitoring technology, which scans texts and online activities for signs of danger. This way you can check in and make sure everything’s okay.
Parenting in a digital age isn’t easy, but we help make it a little less stressful for parents.
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Bark helps families manage and protect their children’s digital lives.
