Preparing Kids For The Connected Future
Thanks to the conveniences the internet and our handheld devices provide, it’s easier than ever to live many parts of our lives online.
Shopping? Browse, order, pay online and get it delivered.
Hungry? UberEats is always open.
Bored? Millions of books, games, movies, and TV shows are available at the touch of a button.
With more than half of the planet’s population connected through at least one internet-ready device, life looks very different today than it did just a couple decades ago. There’s no denying that connectivity is here to stay and that it will shape the future for our children in ways that we can’t even imagine.
So, how the heck can we prepare our kids for a future that’s sure to be unlike anything we’ve ever seen? As parents, it can be stressful and even a little scary to try and prepare them for a future we can’t predict or control. Luckily, there are some simple steps we can take to help our kids grow in a broad range of skills that will allow them to successfully navigate the connected future. We can start small with the important basics:
1. Safety
Just like we teach our children about ‘stranger danger’ and how to look both ways before crossing the street, it’s imperative that parents include internet safety into these lessons as well. Kids have regular access to connected devices from an early age, so it’s vital that they begin to learn the steps for staying safe online as soon as possible. Find a great starting list of online safety tips here.
2. Communication
With remote options possible for both education and future work opportunities, your child will benefit from learning to effectively communicate through a screen. So call up Grandma and Grandpa via Facetime or Zoom a couple times a week and practise listening skills as well as taking turns. This is a skill we help our Coco Coding students strengthen in their weekly online coding classes!
3. Device Usage
For most lessons learned at an early age, it’s ‘monkey see, monkey do’. If you don’t want your child to spend a lot of time in front of a screen, make sure that YOU aren’t showing him that exact behavior on a daily basis. As parents it’s up to us to be the good example that our children will follow, so practise what you preach and keep your own screen time within reasonable limits.
We don’t have to fear a technologically advanced future for our children. We can raise the next generation to have strong values alongside skills that will allow them to reach their full potential. It’s about balance and choosing to be intentional with how we spend our time together. The future is coming, let’s make sure they’re ready for it!
If you’re looking for more tips on getting your children ready for the high-tech future, download our free Guide to Raising Future-Ready Children.
Want your kids to experience more meaningful screen time while improving their creative, communication, and collaboration skills? Try a FREE lesson with Coco Coders! Book yours here.