Like parent, like child ...
Even for a parenting counsellor who knows how to do it better, it's a challenge to get away from your mobile phone. Kathrin Buholzer, online nanny at elternplanet.ch and mother of two daughters, uses her smartphone as a work tool. Her 13-year-old daughter sometimes reacts promptly: «Put your mobile phone down for a moment and listen to me!» At such moments, Kathrin Buholzer hears herself. She feels caught out and is proud at the same time that her daughter has learnt something important: People need attention. «Even babies crave undivided attention,» she says. And that is more of a challenge today than ever before. This is because children associate technology with shared attention from an early age. If you take a look around playgrounds, you realise that children often lose out in this battle.
Children learn from models
How parents themselves deal with digital media has an impact. Young children and preschoolers in particular are strongly orientated towards their parents and older siblings. Their guidelines are the rule for children - without ifs and buts. These only follow later.
Parents today are aware that media skills are important. That's why they ask early on: Which devices are children allowed to use? For what? And for how long? They quickly find helpful advice on this. However, despite all the good rules, parents should not lose sight of their own media use. You are the model by which your child learns.
Getting to know the media together
If a child uses media, parents should, or rather must, accompany and support them - media should be learnt about together. «Talk to your child about what you are currently experiencing together and what they and you enjoy. Then briefly look back: What was good? What wasn't? Agree on what you would like to repeat and what you would prefer to change,» says Kathrin Buholzer, describing the support process in more detail. Because a child who learns to talk about media experiences and learning experiences at an early age is well equipped for the future. They learn to be aware and take a critical look. And these are precisely the orientation aids that children and young people need in order to find their way in our media society.
How long are you online every day? And your children? Dare to compare: the «Offtime» app shows you what you do on your mobile phone and for how long. It also allows you to go and stay offline with just a few clicks.
