ParentCode Pune- Raising kids in the digital age
Raising kids in the digital age requires a delicate balance. While technology offers valuable educational and entertainment opportunities, it’s important to set boundaries, encourage offline activities, and prioritize digital literacy and online safety. Open communication with children about screen time and online behavior is crucial to help them navigate the digital world responsibly.
We spoke to the founding member of Parent Code Pune, our community partner, Chinmayee and here is what she has to say about raising kids in the digital age.
What prompted you to start Parent Code Pune?
Post-partum millennial parenting can feel extremely isolating, especially if you’re the first amongst your siblings and close friends to have a baby. Most times, there’s plenty of love and empathy that pours in for a new baby and its parents. However, we face numerous instances where we have no one to turn to for the smaller questions, to feel connected with someone whom we know would truly relate to, and to share inputs relevant to HERE and NOW.
As my baby and I grew, the needs and conversations around parenting kept evolving. It is crucial for a child’s daily day-to-day life and upbringing that both parents are equally involved. 50:50 or 100:100, either way, that works for the parents.
Hence, Parent Code Pune was born over time as I connected with numerous parents, mothers and fathers alike. Breastfeeding, mental wellness, and promoting events/workshops within the city. These are some of the key topics that Parent Code Pune focuses on while collaborating with like-minded individuals from different fields.
When it comes to raising kids in the digital age what are some main concerns you hear parents share?
Excessive screen time, child won’t eat without the screen, learning inappropriate language and behaviour, meltdowns and tantrums, poor sleep habits, over-stimulated children (usually misunderstood for “hyper” behaviour), identity theft, etc.
How do you feel Happinetz can become an ally to parents to help them address these concerns?
Happinetz can play the good-cop / bad-cop with a little supervision from parents to address these concerns at home. Screen time can be inculcated gradually into a routine to create a harmonious “normal” day. A good balance of indoor activities, outdoor activities, and screen time for connecting, learning and entertainment can be achieved with the help of many features that Happinetz provides along with other activities to engage your child.
One message for parents raising digital kids.
Screens are here to stay: The Internet is ever-growing and ever expansive; know its benefits and drawbacks and open your eyes to how it can affect your child. Make technology your ally and empower yourself with the right tools to optimize it to its best potential for your kids and for yourself.
As Chinmayee puts it,
Navigating the digital age with your kids requires a blend of vigilance and empowerment. Embrace technology’s potential, but don’t overlook its pitfalls. Equip yourself with the knowledge and tools needed to guide your children responsibly through the digital landscape. Balancing technology’s benefits and risks is paramount in today’s parenting journey.
You can follow Chinmayee on Instagram.
