Doctors are now saying the Internet is ‘O.K’ for children and teens, but proper guidelines and screen-time moderation are critical recommendations
In a world where technology has become an essential, we are faced with new struggles as parents with ensuring our child is safe. From staggering increasing numbers in child exploitation, to shocking research that displays the Internet as a treacherous land filled with danger, parents often feel the Internet is no longer beneficial, but rather a burden in their household. However, new research conducting by the American Academy of Pediatrics has given new, positive recommendations in regards to children and Internet use that is changing the way parents feel about the web.
The American Academy of Pediatrics states that the Internet, if properly monitored, is ‘O.K’ for children and teens, and can be beneficial for areas like learning and socializing. Past, and since lifted research by the doctors concluded that excessive Internet use is harmful and that children under age 2 should avoid all screens, and that older children and teenagers should only be exposed to digital media for no more two hours a day. Now, with extensive research and re-evaluation of the effects of digital media on children, that is no longer the case.
The doctors are now encouraging parents to provide their children with structured guidelines when it comes to screen-time and digital media, and that technology is just another tool used in modern society that comes with benefits as well as risks. Megan Moreno, an associate professor of adolescent medicine at Seattle Children’s Hospital believes it’s important for parents to balance screen-time properly. “[The Internet] is not evil, it does not need to be avoided,” she states in the article “Limited time online is OK for toddlers, doctors say” in USA Today, “it just needs to be balanced with all other things kids need.” Adapting with the evolution of technology and understanding the ever-changing Internet has become a must for parents in order to protect their children.
So how do we implement the Internet into our home while following recommendations from doctors and feeling comfortable that our children are safe while surfing the web? Parenting online seems to be a combination of solution, and discussion. However, finding an easy solution for screen-time and monitoring has been far from easy for parents with the evolution of technology. With copious amounts of applications and expensive, complicated software that require ongoing manual updates, there have been minimal options for those less technically savvy parents who are looking to protect their children.
Thankfully, Kids Wireless Inc. has launched at a time where Internet safety is crucial. They are ecstatic to provide a simple Internet safety solution for parents who desire to protect their children online, and fully support the American Academy of Pediatrics and their new encouraged guidelines for Internet safety. The American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines and the KidsWifi Internet monitoring device in combination can provide parents with the peace-of-mind knowing their children are safe and utilizing the Internet in a positive manner.
The AAP has listed their recommendations for parents. The guidelines are described as “doable and balanced and reasonable and fit the reality of 2016” by James Steyer, Founder of the non-profit group Common Sense Media that the American Academy of Pediatrics works closely with for sourcing reliable information and research on digital media and children.
The doctors are recommending that parents implement the following guidelines into their parenting style regarding the Internet and screen-time:
- Remove devices an hour before bed, and in bedrooms overnight. Light and noise can disrupt sleep.
- Discourage multi-tasking. Assist your child in focusing on homework by removing digital media during these times. Multitasking has been found to interfere with learning.
- Encourage ‘media-free’ times such as during dinner or family times for all family members.
- Immerse yourself in the online world. Ensure you, as a parent, understand what your children are watching and doing online. Discuss anti-bullying, sexting, and other dangerous parts of the web that can be avoided.
The KidsWifi device has many features in their device to assist with the guidelines provided by the APP. From their automatic shut-off and turn-on setting to assist with media-free times, and their built-in analytics that gives parents detailed information on what their children are viewing to assist parents with understanding what’s trending on the web, parents can follow the APP recommendations more efficiently in combination with the KidsWifi device.
In 2016, it’s safe to say the Internet is here to stay, and it’s continually evolving with our children exposed to it. The safety and health of our children while utilizing the Internet is in our hands, as parents. Fortunately with the recommendations provided by the AAP and the KidsWifi device, parents can pave the way to healthy digital media usage in their children, and the Internet can be utilized as the beneficial tool it was truly meant to be.
