Technology for teens

Technology for teens is a topic that many have written about, yet the basic uses remain unclear to most parents! With every passing day, our lives are revolving more and more around devices and gadgets. This holds true for both adults and children alike. 

In fact, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is pretty much a given that most children now are using devices such as cell phones, tablets, and computers, be it for their studies or just to pass the time. 

Due to this, the main concern, when we talk about technology for teens, is that parents have to keep children safe from the harmful effects of devices, which is valid due to their current level of usage. 

As the years pass by and they grow into teens, there is something else parents should be focusing on in order to maintain the child’s mental health, behavior, confidence, and character as it would open them up to a world of possibilities, exposure, and potential.  

In this article, we provide a brief guide on teenagers and digital technology and how parents can teach their children about the basic use of tech for their advantage.

Technology for teens: A brief guide

Utilizing funds

This is such an important skill for everyone as money is an influential factor. Being money smart is a skill that comes with experience. Children, today, are quite adept at using technology. 

If you encourage them to start using their available funds to the fullest capacity, it can help them maintain their finances efficiently. 

You can make your child maintain an expense sheet online on a monthly basis which will make them realize their actual expenses; you can then help them differentiate between wants and needs rather than wasting their pocket money on unnecessary items. 

Also, with this, they can be particular about the dates or schedule for their cash inflow which will help them achieve sustainability in regularity. They will maintain this habit in the future, be able to save money, and keep track of their income and expenditure.

Then there’s the technology for slightly older teens, such as advanced applications that can help them track their data easily. This will help them develop the habit of planning which would be useful for them in the long term.

Utilizing tools

Tech for teens has greatly advanced nowadays; children can now access information in a variety of ways. Using smart home devices and tools has been able to make our lives easier. You can teach your children to use such tools to enhance their creativity and skills. 

Research

The most important skill we need to develop is that of critical thinking and research, an important factor to utilize the benefits provided by technology.  

Introducing such technology is useful for teens as it would really give them an edge in their academic and co-curricular activities. You can give them small tasks to search either for information or about a place or a process. 

The idea here is to get teens and technology associated in such a manner as to get hands-on experience of surfing the internet effectively to find reliable answers and information. 

Basic uses

Teens must also be made aware of the operation, switch on/off, sleep mode, and battery life of the devices they use. This can help them become independent and fix any fixable problems.

You can teach them how to troubleshoot and fix basic issues with their computers, tablets, and phones.    

Making a call

When we talk about technology for teens, a must topic is, of course, making phone calls! Children must be capable of making phone calls and communicating with people over the phone as this can help them in the future as working professionals. 

Today’s youth prefers sending instant messages rather than calling each other; you can help them acquire this skill by encouraging them to make calls such as booking a medical appointment or for a handyman whose services you may require.  

When they are younger, have them call family and friends rather than texting or emailing to develop the habit of bonding without being a physical part of the moment or place. Although this may seem insignificant at first, it can help them develop their people skills.

Conclusion

Technology these days has made a massive difference for teens. The world is not the same as it was even five years ago. Children today are quite smart and thus, teens and tech go hand in hand as they understand how to use technology from a very young age.

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Frequently asked questions

1. What do parents need to know about technology?

• The foremost thing parents need to understand is that they should treat media as they would treat any other environment surrounding the child and secondly, they should encourage playtime while also setting limits. 

2. How to introduce kids to technology?

• The three key ingredients to introducing kids to technology are to start slow, be intentional with your approach, and lastly, set boundaries. 

3. What age should you introduce technology?

• The age at which you expose your child/children to tech devices completely depends on your parenting style and your own understanding of technology as well.

4. How much screen time should a 12-year-old have?

• It is usually recommended to restrict screen time for teens to a maximum of two hours per day.

5. What age should a kid get a phone?

• On average, a child gets a phone at around 12-13 years of age. However, this would again depend on your parenting style.