By: Sarah Johnson
As a parent, I find myself constantly torn over my children’s technology habits. On one side, it’s evident that my family has become a bit too attached to their devices. Just the other evening, I walked into the dining room to find my husband and two kids, ages 12 and 9, all engrossed in their screens, earbuds in place, rendering my attempts at conversation futile. It was one of those haphazard weeknight dinners, so I didn’t expect much chatting, but this felt like a surreal representation of how hooked everyone has become on personal devices.
Nevertheless, it’s impossible to ignore the integral role technology plays in our lives today. My kids use their tablets and phones not only for entertainment—watching videos and gaming—but also to connect with friends (who talks on the phone anymore?) and tackle school assignments. I even find them researching topics like the solar system (yes, they’re that curious!). Their teachers emphasize the importance of coding and tech skills, stating that the future job market is heavily leaning in that direction. My son frequently reminds me that he’ll become a successful programmer, so I should just chill out about his screen time. Sigh.
That’s why I was thrilled to stumble upon a Facebook post from Amanda Lee, an HR Manager from Austin, TX, and a mother of three. Her advice on managing tech use among kids was both practical and innovative. Amanda shared her insights after observing numerous parents struggling with their children’s increasing screen time.
“I’m part of several parenting groups, and I see many parents giving their kids smartphones and laptops at younger ages,” Amanda shared. “Soon enough, they’re back in the group frustrated, feeling like they’ve lost their kids to these gadgets.” I can definitely relate to that.
Amanda emphasized the need for parents to guide their children in using technology not just for passive consumption but for active creation and contribution. In her career, she hires young adults and has noticed a concerning trend: while they may know how to operate their devices, many lack essential practical skills.
“We hire plenty of young adults who are practically glued to their phones yet struggle with basic tasks like making and receiving calls,” Amanda noted. “The anxiety they face when dealing with even minor conflicts on customer service calls can be overwhelming.”
I realize I still have some time before my kids enter the workforce, but I also recognize that I need to better prepare them for fundamental skills, like making a phone call (and not just video calls). I’ve excused this oversight by thinking they don’t need these skills just yet, given that texting and emailing are prevalent. However, Amanda’s perspective on the importance of these skills for future success is hard to ignore.
She provided several clever ways to engage kids with technology to help them learn essential life skills. Some of my favorites include having them contact tech support when the Wi-Fi goes down (they seem to handle that better than I do!) and asking them to do the online grocery shopping during their summer breaks. Another great idea was making them responsible for scheduling their own haircuts and doctor appointments. Yes, please!
Amanda’s post has resonated widely, garnering over 87,000 shares on Facebook, with many parents expressing gratitude for her practical approach to teaching kids necessary tech skills. She noted that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with stories of children becoming more involved in household tasks, researching purchases, and even signing up for school events on their own.
That’s fantastic! I plan to implement some of Amanda’s tips with my kids in the coming years. I’m adopting the mindset that technology isn’t inherently “good” or “bad”—it’s all about how we choose to use it. And yes, they will learn to talk on the phone if it’s the last thing I do!
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In summary, navigating technology with children can be challenging, but with intentional strategies, parents can foster essential skills that will help their kids thrive in an increasingly digital world.
Keyphrase: Technology Use in Parenting
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