Category: Parenting

The advent of handheld tech devices, such as smartphones, has made technology integral to human life. The increased adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), on the other hand, has enabled digital devices to interconnect and communicate over the internet.  These tech developments have had a huge impact on modern parenting.

Keeping your children safe is a lot easier now thanks to technology.

1.  Enhanced security and safety

• Smart home security cameras allow you to keep an eye on your home even when you’re away at work.

• Location tracking apps tell you where your child is, any time of the day.

• Ambient sensing technology enables you to track the ambiance (pressure, temperature, air quality, etc.) in your home to ensure that your kids are safe.

• Motion sensors can tell you when something is amiss in the house, e.g. if your child slips and falls.

• Automated alarm systems can alert the relevant authorities in case of a break-in or a fire.

• Geofencing allows you to create virtual geographic boundaries for your child, so you get alerted whenever the child crosses any of those boundaries.

• Digital video baby monitors give you a secure private connection with your baby even when you’re at work.

 2.  Better access to parenting tips and support

If you have any questions about parenting, you can always trust the internet to provide the answers. You can get answers from blogs, YouTube videos, or research articles written by parenting experts. There also exists parenting forums on the internet where you can get peer support from other parents around the world.

Here’s something you’ll like: there are online tools for verifying parenting information you get either offline or on the internet. You can learn more about double-checking the suitability of medications prescribed for your kids by a doctor. This way you ensure that your kids get the medications they need, whenever they need them, and with the accuracy that medical care demands.

3.  Keeping families connected

Parents have to work and kids have to go to school. This makes face-to-face interactions in the family unit scarce and far between. Video calling technology is knitting the family unit back together by enabling parents and their kids to “meet” virtually during the day. Not even geographical boundaries can stand in the way of family unity now. Technology has also made it possible for kids to learn from home and parents to work from home. It’s now possible to be a stay-at-home mom or dad and still earn a decent income through freelancing jobs.

4.  Capturing, storing, accessing, and sharing memories

Smartphones come with advanced cameras, photo editing features, and photo-sharing apps that allow you to document your kid’s life for free. What’s more, cloud storage makes it possible to store and preserve videos/photos eternally. You can access memories stored on the cloud on any device, at any time, and from anywhere on the planet. You don’t need to worry that your phone might get lost with all your valuable memories in it.

5.  Quality family time

Modern gaming apps and consoles allow you to co-play video games with your kid without necessarily being in the same room. You can even play with him/her when stuck in traffic. Video games give you a chance to bond with your kid as you teach him/her good sportsmanship, gaming etiquette, and other life lessons.

Technology has also birthed video streaming services and affordable home theater equipment. You now don’t have to depend on theaters for movies; you can snuggle up with your kid in your home theater as you stream your favorite family movie.

Managing Technology for Desirable Parenting

Excessive use of tech devices can be unhealthy. Children who spend too much time watching TV or playing video games are at risk of developing behavioral and learning difficulties. Unregulated screen time can also lead to obesity due to insufficient physical exercise.

Thankfully, technology gives parents all the tools they need to monitor and regulate their kids’ screen time. You can, for example:

• Schedule screen time using a device management app. You can limit your kid’s screen time for a healthier routine (pediatricians recommend at most an hour daily for kids between 2-5 years). Once the scheduled time elapses, the device locks itself automatically.

• Monitoring device activities using a phone monitoring app. On top of limiting a kid’s screen time, it is also possible to monitor what the kid does on the internet. You get notified when the child downloads an app or joins a platform he/she shouldn’t join. That keeps the child safe from data spies, cyberbullies, and other harmful aspects of technology.

• Installing educational apps. These apps are fun and engaging. They give the kid something constructive to do as opposed to wasting time on undesirable apps.

• Multiple device control technology allows multiple caregivers to monitor what a child does on his/her device. With more eyes on the ball, there’s almost no chance of anything going wrong.

Final word

We’re living in a technology-saturated era; your child will interact with technology one way or the other with or without your approval. Taking a proactive role in the child’s tech life allows you to take charge and strike the right balance of screen time. Remember to encourage the child to exercise and socialize. Over to you, mums and dads!

Sunny days can be a wonderful time for fun outdoor activities, especially for kids. While sunny days can be fun, ensuring safety when kids are out playing is vital. Sun safety for kids prevents the effects of excessive sun exposure.  Read on to learn how to protect your kids from these effects and protect them from possible sun hazards.

UV Rays and Kids

Generally, we know that excessive exposure to sun rays poses a great risk to your skin health. You could be exposed to UV rays that could impact your skin significantly. And it is critical for everyone to protect vision from UV rays. For kids, the sun effects are worse. Their skin is highly vulnerable to these rays as it is still developing. UV rays can increase your child’s skin cancer risk and cause skin burns.

Therefore, it is vital to reduce kids’ exposure to sun rays. When your child is outdoors playing in the sunshine, always protecting their skin and eyes is vital. This helps prevent skin damage that affects your child’s skin. Excessive exposure to sunshine can also lead to eye injuries.

How to Protect Your Kids from the Sun

The sun can damage your kid’s skin and trigger conditions like skin cancer. Thankfully, you can protect your kids from the sun in several ways. Here are ways you can do so.

Protect Your Child With Clothes

One of the best ways to protect your child is to cover them up. It is crucial to dress up your child in thick clothes that protect against sun rays. To check if the clothes provide enough protection, put your hand inside the clothes and ensure you cannot see your hand through them. You can also get kid clothes with an ultraviolet protection factor. These clothes have labels showing they can protect against the sun; therefore, be sure to check them.

Since kids with lighter skin can burn easily, always dress them in protective clothing. You should also reduce their exposure to sunlight as much as possible. If your kid wants to play in the sun, dress them in protective clothing covering most body parts. Doing so, you help reduce their exposure to sensitive and harmful sun rays.

Encourage Wearing a Hat

You can also protect your child from the sun by encouraging them to wear a hat. While clothes play an excellent role in protecting your kid from sun exposure, they don’t cover some parts of the body. A hat covers the head and helps keep your baby secure. Use a hat with a brim all the way around covering your child’s ears, face, and neck. It is best to go for tightly woven fabric that protects the skin from UV rays. Light hats with holes in them are not ideal for this purpose. Instead, go for hats that protect against UV rays and their effects.

Use Broad-Spectrum SPFs

You can use sunscreens to protect your kid from the sun. It is crucial to know that not all sunscreens are ideal for children. Only use broad-spectrum SPFs on your kids to protect them from the sun. If you want to identify a broad-spectrum SPF, look at the label. This type of sunscreen is ideal because it protects against the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.

This sunscreen will not harm your child. Broad-spectrum sunscreen protects the skin by creating a chemical barrier that reflects or absorbs UV radiation. This is done before the UV rays cause any damage to the skin.

Choose Quality Sunglasses

Sunglasses can also protect your kids from the sun. They protect the eyes from UV rays and reduce the threat of cataracts. Additionally, your kids wearing sunglasses will protect the tender skin around their eyes from exposure to sunlight. For the best protection, you should go for sunglasses that can protect you from UVB and UVA rays.

Thankfully, most sunglasses sold in the country meet this standard. If your kids engage in outdoor activities, go for wrap-around sunglasses blocking UV rays. You can also stick to these sunglasses whenever your kids are in the sun.

Make Sure Your Kids Are Hydrated

When your body is well hydrated, the sun will have minimal effects on your skin. Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that your kids are hydrated at all times. Let them drink as much water as possible when playing in the sun. Combining this tip with other protective measures will reduce the effects of sun rays. It also helps keep the skin clear.

Set a Good Example

Kids tend to imitate things they see and hear. As a parent, set a good example for your kids. Always wear your hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing when out in the sun. Let your kids know the importance of these measures and the dangers of not doing so. Setting a good example is a reliable way of protecting your kids from the sun.

Safety Tips for Schools

Kids spend most of their time at school. This is why schools must have safety measures. There are several ways schools can protect kids from the sun. For instance, they should encourage kids to wear sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen when playing outdoors. They should also avoid scheduling outdoor activities when the sun is strongest.

More Protection Facts and Tips

Here are more sun safety protection facts and tips you should consider.

• At the Beach – It is vital to use wrap-around sunglasses while at the beach to prevent UV rays from penetrating from the side.
• In the Snow – Ensure your kid wears heavy, protective clothing when out in the snow. You should ensure they have protective headgear at all times.
• In the Car – Car windshields are designed to protect against sun rays. If your kid is in the car, ensure the windows are always up.

Conclusion

It is crucial to protect your kids from the sun. While playing outdoors is fun and exciting for kids, sun rays can be damaging. Use these tips to keep your child safe and with healthy skin. Let them wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and hats that provide the protection needed.

Today’s kids are the first generation to grow up fully immersed in technology. This has advantages and disadvantages, with an undeniable downside being increased mental health disorders. While technology can be fun for parents and kids alike, there are ties between technology and depression that parents should know about.

The Connection Between Technology and Depression

Recent research found that depression among kids increased by more than 25% in the past decade, leading to lowered self-esteem.

Though there are several possible contributing factors, it’s undeniable that the increased use of technology takes a toll on children’s mental health. The internet is better able to connect us and help us learn, but it’s also a platform for bullying, insecurity and toxic ideas that can be especially harmful to still-developing minds.

Cyberbullying is common among kids online. They often don’t realize the true impact their words and actions have. It’s easy to hide behind a user name and computer screen to make a mean comment or threaten someone else. Kids often bully because they are still figuring out how to handle social situations and feel like being mean will put them at the top of their social ladder. Bullies are often insecure. By tearing someone else down, they can feel better about themselves. Bullying among adults also often happens online, normalizing it for kids.

Social media often shows kids the “best” photos and experiences, making them self-conscious about their appearance and abilities. Fancy filters can erase blemishes, giving kids unrealistic expectations for how they should look. Children often follow the accounts of celebrities they like and don’t realize people are in charge of making them appear glamorous.

Screen time keeps kids from other activities that nurture their bodies and minds. Research shows that the average kid engages in four to six hours of screen time daily. Being sedentary for this long increases the risk of developing depression.

How to Help Kids Avoid Depression Tied to Tech

Several things can contribute to mental health issues, and you can only do so much to prevent them. However, changing your child’s technology habits can reduce or eliminate depression symptoms. Here are some things you can do.

Limit Their Time

Children from 2-5 years old should only have under one hour of screen time per day, and older kids should not be on for more than two. Two hours is also the standard recommended time for adults. Kids under 2 should only have occasional screen time.

Even if you set a timer, they might have more exposure than you realize. Televisions in the background of other activities can catch their eye, and unattended devices could lead to sneaky behaviors. As easy as it can be to hand your child a device while trying to do something else, another distraction could preserve their well-being.

Encourage Physical Activities

Getting your kids moving distracts them from technology and can improve their physical and mental health. Research shows that regular exercise can help prevent and treat symptoms of depression, anxiety and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Children are more motivated to exercise when they do something they love. Sports, dancing, martial arts or just playing outside encourages them to enjoy themselves without using technology. Many sports teach children important life skills without them knowing it, such as responsibility, honesty and emotional control.

Teach Them About It

It’s important to monitor your child’s social media use, but you can’t protect them from everything. Between school and extracurricular activities, they’re likely to see or experience mean or inappropriate content. One of the best things you can do is teach your children about what they may encounter.

Everyone wants to protect their kids, but it helps to tell them about cyberbullying, filters and photo alterations, different morals and beliefs, and responsible posting. That way, they’re equipped with the knowledge to confidently navigate television, video games, internet searches and social media. They can better understand what enriches them and what doesn’t when they guard their hearts and minds against negativity.

Helping Kids Use Technology Wisely

The connection between technology and depression in children is hard to ignore, but that doesn’t mean you should ban it. These days, kids need to know how to navigate the vast amount of content and connections made through tech. Limiting their time and equipping them with the right mindset and life skills reduces their risk of mental health conditions now and in the future.

Author bio:  Cora Gold is the Editor-in-Chief of women’s lifestyle magazine, Revivalist. She strives to live a happy and healthy life with her family by her side.
Follow Cora on Facebook and LinkedIn.

When parents separate a parenting plan becomes one of those essential, but often neglected, things to help both parties navigate the care of their children.  It takes a less than ideal situation and breaths hope into the future. It creates order and brings security to the child because their wellbeing is always the first priority when done properly.

A parenting plan can help set forth the rules and regulations for how you and your ex-spouse will co-parent your child. It can also help resolve disagreements and disputes between parents. If you are considering creating a parenting plan or have already created one but are having problems implementing it, you should consider meeting with a lawyer.

Just as important is accessing the living arrangements of the child, a parenting plan determines the rules and regulations of how you and your ex-spouse will co-parent.  It will help resolve disagreements and disputes that may arise. It can be a complicated matter, so you may want to consider consulting a lawyer to do it properly.

If you have questions about parenting plans or other family law matters, consider contacting a professional that specializes in family law. They can help you protect your rights and the rights of your child.

What Should Be Covered in a Parenting Plan?

A effective parenting plan may cover a variety of issues.  As mentioned, the child’s wellbeing should be at the forefront of all discussions.  From there, the best compromises can be made resulting in the least harm to both families involved.

Issues to be added to the parenting plan include:

• Custody and visitation schedules
• Holidays and special occasions
• Transportation arrangements
• Communication methods between parents
• Structure for Decision making
• How discipline will be handled
• Financial responsibilities

No family is the same.  Every child has a different level of needs.  Modifications can be made if the parenting plan is not working properly in certain areas as time progresses. This includes new needs that arise as children grow.

If you and your ex-spouse get along well and can communicate effectively, you may not need a detailed parenting plan. However, if you have a more contentious relationship, a more detailed parenting plan will be beneficial.

The Importance of Creating a Parenting Plan

A parenting plan is crucial because it can help reduce conflict between parents. It can also provide stability for children.

A parenting plan can also help prevent child custody disputes from escalating into legal battles. If you and your ex-spouse can agree on a parenting plan, you may be able to avoid a costly and time-consuming court battle.

Of course, even if you have a parenting plan, there is no guarantee that conflicts will never arise. However, a well-crafted plan can help minimize the gravity of disputes. Simply put, a parenting plan provides a roadmap for resolving disagreements, not how great or small.

Essential Factors to Consider when Creating a Parenting Plan

There are many factors to consider when creating a parenting plan. However, some of the most important include:

• The age of your child
• Your work schedules
• The location of your homes
• Your child’s schooling
• Extra-curricular activities
• Religious upbringing
• Holidays

Securing your child’s future stability and well-being should be your top priority when creating a parenting plan. That said, it is also essential to consider your needs and interests.

Because kids need both of their parents for love, nurturing and to feel affirmed and accepted.  The parenting plan ensures each parent can spend ample time with each child involved.  It may not be equal time due to work hours of each parent, but it can be stress free quality time as laid out in the plan.

Receiving Help from an Experienced Family Law Attorney

Creating a parenting plan can be challenging. However, it is a structured way to discuss and pay out what life will look like for your family.  There are many variables and things get even more complicated when blended families are in the mix.

A family law attorney has experience to guide you thought the pitfalls that many couples face when beginning the frame work for their own parenting plan.  Legal help can also help to protect the rights of everyone included, including your child.

When Should A Parenting Plan Be Put In Place?

A parenting plan should be discussed and implemented whenever there is a change in the custody arrangement. This could be due to a divorce, separation, or the death of a parent. A parenting plan can also be created even if parents have never been married.

It is important to remember that a parenting plan doesn’t need to be only for parents getting divorced. It can be a good idea for any couple to have a parenting plan, especially when there is natural conflict within the family. Even if parents great along great, a child may be challenging to deal with throughout the stages of their own life.  This will help ensure everyone is on the same page regarding child-rearing decisions.

A parenting plan can also be helpful if one parent plans to move out of state. Even if both parents agree on the move, it is still a good idea to have a parenting plan in place. This will help ensure that the child’s needs are still being met even if they live in two different states.

Final Words

Planning and securing a child’s welfare and future is essential for all parents. A parenting plan can be a helpful tool in ensuring that a child’s needs are being met even if the parents are no longer together.

For more guidance, speak to a proficient family law attorney if you have any questions about parenting plans or other family law matters.