Below is a summary of the lists of influences you crafted in your small groups:
- social media, including blogs
- values and stress related to being a good/perfect parent (possibly as an outgrowth of the influx of information from multiple sources)
- values for working hard, and working and raising a family (fewer choices for stay-at-home parenting)
- see more diversity among families, including differences in family structures with single parenting
- values for individuality, including unique names
- values for democratic parenting with children; a more collaborative approach in decision-making for the child v. overscheduling the child into many things or being one-sided and authoritarian in expectations
- compared to how they were raised, they may parent children in similar ways or the complete opposite, based on personal experiences. In other words, personal choice.
The role of technology for millenials is particularly key. You identified technology's influence as being:
- information is public (to a point) through social media; posting pictures and 'portfolio-izing' family life; presenting what is a perfect family/parenting
- can set up feelings of competition among parents
- can set up feelings of inadequacy
- classrooms are increasingly featuring technology in teaching and learning (including smart boards, tablets)
- children may feel forced to grow up sooner because of the emergence of smart technology (that shares information quickly
- unlimited access to good and bad information does not have an age limit for parents - not good for all children
- constant sources of information - much from self-authored content through social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc) can create an expectation that there is more information available to know and for decision-making
- much sharing in social media - advice, offers of support; also music (conveys values and beliefs expressed)
Certainly our point in time and the massive influence of technology and social sharing that has flooded parents' experiences with perspectives from others that offer more information and even a bias in information that can shape what and how parents believe about parenting. As discussed in class, this can be a good thing (more information) and a bad thing (greater 'volume' over certain messaging) that might contribute to indecision and insecurities. Yet we also discussed that individual differences may dictate those parents who are influenced by all of this negatively, and those for whom it is not a challenge to screen out the noise and make their own decisions, and feel confident in their choices. These parents may be gathering information from their decision-making from other sources we've discussed in class, including
- their personal experiences
- their friends
- their family members
- others they know who are parents/who they trust with advice on childrearing
- others?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
I think what we can do to help parents that live with this mass media of information is to educate them on that not everything posted on the internet is true and they should not rely on everything that they read from the internet. There is information on the internet that is very helpful and useful for parents, and helps them out with parenting, but they should not always rely on the internet for help. Relying on their family, and friends is a good connection to ask for help for parenting too. Parenting sounds like it is a lot of work, and asking people who they trust is a good resource to go go first before depending on the internet for information. A lot of people have different parenting styles, and have different ways on raising their child. Relying on the internet for everything is not a good method on how to raise your child, and ask what to do in certain situations because not everything is true on the internet.
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ReplyDeleteI believe that electronic time, even though it is constantly at their fingertips, should still be monitored when it comes to children. They should not have unlimited access to electronics, social media and the internet. I agree with you Megan, it is very important to guide children and their internet using. I am currently taking Research Methods and we are learning how to detect when an article or website is reliable. I feel it would be beneficial to the elementary/primary school systems to add more life competency classes to the curriculum as the technological world grows and expands. It would be helpful if children could gain good judgement skills or at least gain the tools to know that not everything they see on the internet is real or truthful. When it comes to parenting, it is important to know this and to educate children and also to promote self confidence in children and in their own life and parenting choices.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Chelsea's comment on monitoring children's electronic time. However, I feel that this should apply to parents as well. I see so many parents on their phones or other devices while they are with their kids. They seem distracted by the entertaining and expansive world of cyberspace, yet they should be entertaining and engaged by their children who are growing up before their own eyes. Technology has become such a huge part of our lives that I think people have a difficult time unplugging and realizing that sometimes it is simply inappropriate to be on your phone. For instance, I often see parents looking at their phones while their children play on a playground or in their yard. I know there is a use for technology, but I think parents need to realize that there is a time and a place for it and that facebook, instagram, and other blogs or emails will still be there later. There is no need to get super stressed on keeping up with it. It's much more important to keep up with your child.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I love technology, I always think about how parenting existed way before google and Facebook did. I think people rely very heavily on technology and books to tell them how to parent and sometimes that contradicts their gut instinct's or what they were raised to believe. I think parents shouldn't rely on these things until their natural parenting instincts prove ineffective and then they should seek help from outside sources. Everybody is different and all children are different and not everything on the internet is true. I don't think i'll ever pick up a parenting book, if anything I think i'd pick up the phone and call my mom. Although social media is great I do believe it turns into a competition and kind of a way to brag. Although being proud of your children's accomplishments is one thing, showing all your Facebook friends that you bought your daughter a miniature pony for example, makes other parents question the value of their gifts they have given their children. I just think moderation is the best advise to give parents in this technological age, don't rely on the internet for everything, limit your kids' usage, bond face to face rather than over a screen, share stories at dinner and not on your Facebook wall, "follow" up with people in real life and not just on social media.
ReplyDeleteI agree with a lot of what has already been posted. Each comment on how to help parents handle the overwhelming presence of technology not only in their lives, but in their child's as well. I think another thing to help parents is for them to realize just because the technology and tech toys are out there, doesn't mean they have to use them. I know a lot of parents who think tablets for kids and various other technology based toys are a great way to have something else teach their child than themselves, as well as being a great aid in quieting a child down. My cousin had kids right around the time tablets for kids and handheld game devices were really popular. Each child got their own and now their glued to the screens playing various games. They don't interact or socialize with others because they don't know how to. God forbid you take away the device because the child would through a fit, so the parent would just give it back. Which causes a negative reinforcement on that child's behavior. So I think just because the technology and toys are there doesn't mean you have to buy in to them. Just like Chelsea and Megan said, not everything you read on the internet is true and just because you have technology at your finger tips doesn't mean you have to rely on it, but if you go with the technology, definitely limit the time of usage to create more face to face interactions. That way the child can learn to socialize and develop properly.
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ReplyDeleteI do too agree with a lot that has been said.
ReplyDeleteBut, another question that I think of is, how do parents effectively communicate or connect with their children while technology continues to build and potentially in a way create more distant between them (and their kids as they grow older) based on generation differences?
For me, this last month has been unlike any month I ever have had and it actually has brought my relationship with my mom closer and we were having a conversation on culture last week and how culture continues to change over time, as well as ways to parent and have a relationship with your children. (And I think it is pretty evident if you look at the videos that Susan has shown to us). So, what we kind of discussed is that in today's culture/society we "need" to be more tolerant of people in our society as well as our children in terms of their sexuality, technology use, how they express themselves, etc. I find it fascinating how we may never know "exactly" how to raise our children. But, ultimately face-to-face interaction and one's ability to share and express love to one another may an approach that we can all try.
I think that in order for parents to stay connected to their kids while technology grows is to be open to the new technology. When parents are closed off to new things it creates a barrier between them and their kids. My mom refuses to learn how to text and expects me to be able to have a phone conversation with her. Being able to make a phone call is not always possible due to other things going on in my life, yet she refuses to learn how to text. Now, instead of telling her what I'm doing, I am more likely to text my dad and have him tell her. The ability for parents to adapt to the world that their child is living in could make a huge difference on how close they are as their kids grow up. It may also lead way to have good informative conversations about how to be safe while using technology.
DeleteI like what Alexis said about following up with people face to face and not just on facebook. I think that is one of the keys to good and balanced social media use for both parents and children- creating a focus on privacy and face to face relationships. Social media can be a way to escape "real life" and interact with other people in ways we would not necessarily do in person. (Would you really say that to someone's face or show that picture to everyone on the street?)
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I can see how technology can share stories and wisdom with parents that can be inspiring and helpful. However, when social media and technology create isolation or unhealthy expectations, I believe parents and families need to connect with their face to face communities. I don't believe online community can replace real community. It can definitely be a part of real friendships and community, but knowing which one of your neighbors will care for your child in an emergency, and which family friend will take in your troubled teenager is not knowledge you can find online. Real relationships are invaluable and take time to build. I think what we need more and more is real relationships, and not just more information. I guess the point then is that parents will feel less confused and more confident as they spend less time seeking out impersonal technology and more time with their children and gaining support from face to face relationships with family and friends.
I really like what Alexis said about how parenting has existed long before the internet and social media. I believe that the internet can be very useful for learning new problems to solutions and learning how to be a better parent, but most parts of being a parent should be learned through one's own experiences, as well as their parental instinct. Like other people have stated, there is a lot of information coming at once and it is necessary to be able to determine what is reliable and what is not. Parenting classes and education are important in order to teach parents where to access this dependable information. For me personally, the availability of technology has helped to strengthen my relationship with my family, even more importantly now that I don't live in the same state. However, face to face interactions are always going to be something fundamental to our relationship and there will always be things that technology will never be able to replace.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Megan on the idea that we should educate parents on how to interpret information. I believe it would be a smart thing to do. Technology is constantly growing and the amount of information one can find on the internet is unimaginable. However, teaching parents how to spot helpful and harmful information would help them be more confident with their choices. In addition, I also agree with Ashley in that we should monitor the children's usage. Some parents are too consumed with trying to adapt to social media and the internet that they forget their children are also learning how to do the same thing, at a really young age. Technology is a good resource to use to find ways on being "good parents", but, in my opinion, first hand experiences from those closest to them will offer better advice for better results.
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