ShareKUWAIT: Modern parents find themselves immersed in a digital territory, where they strive to raise their children to become responsible individuals. With the vast mix of devices and online content, parents need to strike a balance between embracing the benefits of the digital realm and avoiding its potential pitfalls. Kuwait Times interviewed education and family counselor Hussein Akbar to help parents equip their children with necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the digital landscape.
Kuwait Times: How can parents set boundaries and establish healthy limits on their children’s screen time in the digital age?
Akbar: It is important for parents to set boundaries on their children’s screen usage, and to achieve this, they must be firm in establishing fixed schedules for screen time. However, it is crucial to explain the reasons to the children and clarify the motivations behind this measure, emphasizing that the goal is their safety. It is also recommended for parents to use real-life stories that illustrate the dangers of excessive device usage.
KT: What measures can parents take to ensure the safety and security of their children online and protect them from harmful content?
Akbar: Initially, it is necessary to acknowledge the difficulty of constantly monitoring children and imposing numerous restrictions. While some restrictions are necessary to ensure children’s safety, the most important thing is for parents to create motivation for their children to utilize devices optimally and educate them about the dangers and risks associated with these devices. In addition, instilling religious values can lead them towards self-monitoring.
KT: How can parents enhance digital awareness in their children and teach them safe and responsible Internet usage skills?
Akbar: Through communicating with their children about potential risks and addressing all their questions, parents can impose certain rules, such as setting a limit on the number of hours to spend behind screens and periodically monitoring their activities.
KT: What are the best ways to communicate and engage with children in the digital age, and how can parents establish an open conversation about the challenges and risks of the digital world?
Akbar: To mitigate the negative effects of Internet use, parents may direct their children towards useful websites and guide them on how to obtain accurate information. It is also acceptable for parents to seek help from teachers or friends in guiding their children and informing them about the risks of Internet use. It is important to highlight the role modeling plays in children’s lives, as when children see their parents using the Internet inappropriately or excessively, they may not respond to their parents’ guidance because their behavior contradicts their words.
KT: How can parents assist their children in developing a healthy balance between screen time and other outdoor and social activities?
Akbar: Parents should provide children with external activities such as joining sports clubs and educational institutes or arts and crafts, and encourage their participation in these activities. In this way, a child’s day can be filled with productive things. Parents must also consider their children’s feelings and provide for their basic and psychological needs, as they may turn to social media pages in search of self-validation or to seek recognition from followers due to a lack of those needs.
Discovering children’s talents at an early age reduces the chances of electronic addiction. Feeling a sense of responsibility towards their children, giving them attention and time and meeting their needs is the way to ensure the child’s well-being. Sometimes it is good for parents to participate with their children in using the Internet, such as playing games, so they can know the friends of their children who they play with frequently.
