Many parents did not realise the full ramifications of their children having digital devices that were supposed to be for educational purposes. This NY Times article delves into the realisation that with an apparently always-on device (for education, of course) comes many other distractions that do not sit well with the criteria of education. As the article points out, “Among the many changes in young children’s lives this year, the sudden access to the seduction of digital content and the opportunity for online communication with their peers compete for their attention”. Putting a block on these interactions is not always the best solution, though it does depend on the child’s age and maturity. However the author does go on to say that parents should be having conversations about this media experience and that the “American Academy of Pediatrics also endorses the idea that parents should serve as media mentors to their children”. At Escudo Web we have pioneered the concept of Digital Parental Interaction which encourages parents to manage a child’s access to Internet and apps but within a framework of open communication.
nytimes.com/2020/12/10/well/family/children-social-media.html