The Mill, Pune- on Happy Parenting and online safety for children
Happy parenting embraces the digital age with informed guidance, fostering a safe online environment for children to explore and learn. We spoke to Shalvi the founding member of The Mill Pune, our Agency Partner, and here is a glimpse of our conversation on Happy Parenting and online safety for children.
Tell us about The Mill and what you do
The Mill is a boutique content and brand marketing agency, working with start-ups and established brands to make their digital journey smoother, smarter, better. Armed with clever storytelling and new-age strategies, The Mill provides end-to-end support to brands to help make their vision a successful reality.
You speak about Happy Parenting. What does the concept mean to you?
Happy parenting is like being a magician, but instead of pulling rabbits out of hats, you’re pulling endless patience and a bottomless supply of love out of your sleep-deprived self! It’s a journey where you learn to decode baby babble, deal with toddler tantrums, watch your patience and energy deplete and simultaneously master the art of multitasking while embracing the messiness of life. It’s honestly all about finding joy in the chaos, and celebrating the small victories. So, happy parenting is basically a crash course in superhero training with cuddles and lullabies thrown in for good measure! Happy parenting is also NOT taking yourself too seriously, letting your child embrace their strengths and weaknesses, and finding a way to communicate with a tiny human who’s just about coming to terms with their emotions. You’re not always going to win and your child is most certainly not going to listen each time, but you are your child’s safe space. So power through with giggles and tears because the days are long but the years are short. Cherish them!
How best can we introduce social media and safe practices around it to children?
The Internet is vast, and so are the opportunities children have on it. It’s a boon and a bane, and for us parents, it’s a matter of our child’s safety. When and how we expose them to it truly matters; but the exposure is inevitable. For me, the easiest way of doing this is by giving filtered content to children. Time can be monitored and what they’re watching can be supervised, but we all know it’s not possible to watch your kids 24*7. Hence, transparency in communication plays a vital role here. Talk to them about the malpractices on the Internet and what they should be watching and avoiding. Ensure they understand the consequences of their actions, too. Social Media, in my opinion, is a strict no till they’re a certain age and maturity level. But we can’t stop them from getting access to the Internet. The only best we can do is make it safe for them (a problem that Happinetz is solving).
How do you think a product like Happinetz can fit into today’s parenting culture?
Happinetz solves a huge problem for parents and caregivers- it lets us be worry-free while children get the right kind of Internet exposure. The multi-device connecting facility and an easy app experience ensure even novices can handle this. We truly need a hack-proof product that allows safe internet access to kids, and conceptually, I think Happinetz is truly revolutionary. It’s a need of the hour and I’, sure parents who are trying their best to prevent unnecessary internet exposure will truly appreciate this (I know I do).
What is your message to the world to make parenting easier and happier?
Just be yourself and let your children embrace their ever-evolving personalities. No one said parenting will be easy, but it doesn’t have to be difficult either. Remember that your focus should always be on raising a good human, everything else will fall in place. So don’t be too harsh on yourself- children sense anxiety and unknowingly you will pass it on to them. Treasure the years, have fun and know that there’s a time for everything.
In today’s digital age, happy parenting is a delightful blend of love, patience, and adapting to the chaos, like Shalvi says. It’s about nurturing your child’s individuality, introducing technology mindfully, and relying on innovative solutions like Happinetz for a safer online journey. Embrace the journey, focus on raising good humans, and cherish every moment—it’s a superhero training course with cuddles and lullabies!
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