How To Internet – A Dummy's Guide To Parenting In 2018

The Internet should evoke curiosity this is for parents who are trying to be happily tech savvy. Like their children.

- Lisa Ndegwa

Would it interest you to know that the top 2017 Google ‘how to’ search was, ‘how to make slime’? How to make a fidget spinner was no. 5…imagine that! This proves that minors, who have no formal income, are driving major traffic on the Internet.

Children’s love for gadgets makes them heavy Internet consumers – and easily, more up to date than we are. The Internet therefore, has greatly influenced their interests, language, dress and entertainment preferences.

We all have mixed feelings when it comes to the Internet especially when it comes to content that is not meant for children. What one needs to do, is to limit any negative experience while at the same time, ensuring that your child remains sufficiently exposed.

Unlike us, our children are growing up in a world that offers unlimited information, on virtually anything, at the click of a button. The question is, how then do we bring up well-adjusted children when we do not quite understand the world they live in?

INTERESTS

I must say I admire our children’s determination to pursue their interests or develop their talents. You will be hounded to pay for swimming, dancing and cooking lessons at school and once back home, they will still make time, even after a long day at school, to squeeze in cherished hobby. And unlike what happened in our time, this activities will happily be conducted alone, with little encouragement.

THE CHALLENGE