‘Tis the season for giving, and with Christmas day around the corner, many parents are gearing up to surprise their kiddos with the latest and greatest tech gifts under the tree. Recently, we produced a free video on what we believe to be the best cellphones for youth, pre-teens, and teens (1) and we have also written an article on both tech and non-tech gifts for consideration this Christmas season as well (2).
However, there will still be some tech gifts placed under the tree that could cause some privacy, safety, and security challenges for youth that we as parents and caregivers need to minimize the best we can. While the excitement of seeing joyous faces on Christmas morning is something that all parents and caregivers love to see, it’s crucial for parents and caregivers to engage in a bit of “parent-proofing” before these shiny new gadgets find their way into the hands of our eager kiddos.
In recent years, technology has become an integral part of our lives, and children are growing up in an onlife world where smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and smart devices are ubiquitous and have become the norm. As parents and caregivers, it’s our responsibility to ensure that the technology we introduce to our kiddos is age-appropriate – as we like to say, “the right tech at the right time”.
Parent-proofing is not about dampening the holiday spirit or playing the role of the “tech grinch” – instead, it’s a proactive approach to ensuring that the tech gifts our children receive are set up in a way that aligns with our family values and safeguards their well-being. Proper Pre-Planning Prevents Poor Christmas Tech Performance. Before wrapping the new tech gift and placing it under the Christmas tree, here are six steps for your consideration:
- Step #1 – un-box it
- Step #2 – Make sure it is fully charged if a charge is required.
- Step #3 – Ensure that your child’s new device has updated security software to protect against malware and other online threats. Take the time to set up parental controls and privacy settings if such settings exist. Most devices and streaming services offer parental controls to limit access to age-appropriate content. Familiarize yourself with these settings to prevent your child from stumbling upon material that may not be suitable for their age group. Here are parent control links to some of most common tech gift that are often placed under the tree:
- iPhones – https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201304
- Macbooks – https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mac-help/mchl8490d51e/mac & https://support.apple.com/en-ca/guide/mac-help/mchlc5595037/mac
- Meta Quest VR Headset – https://www.meta.com/ca/quest/safety-center/parental-supervision/
- Sony Playstation VR 2 Headset – https://www.playstation.com/en-ca/support/account/ps5-parental-controls-spending-limits/
- HTC Vive VR headset – https://www.vive.com/ca/support/vive-xr/category_howto/setting-up-parental-controls.html
- Playstation – https://www.playstation.com/en-ca/parental-controls/
- Step #4 – Re-box the tech gift and then wrap it up for Christmas.
- Step #5 – On Christmas day, before handing over any device, make sure that you sit down together and read and discuss our Family Collective Agreement (3) Take the opportunity to educate your child about responsible tech use. Discuss online etiquette, the importance of privacy, and the potential consequences of inappropriate behavior. Open communication is key to building a foundation of trust.
- Step #6 – Once you do allow your child to access the device, learn and participate together on its use. (4)(5)
Parent-proofing tech gifts may require a bit of time and effort before placing it under the Christmas tree, but the peace of mind it brings is well worth it. By taking proactive steps to better safeguard your child’s online experience, you not only help to protect them from potential dangers, but also empower them to develop responsible tech habits.
As parents and caregivers, although we may not always look forwarded to waking up at the crack of dawn with our kiddos banging on our bedroom door to wake up Christmas morning, we eagerly anticipate the looks of pure joy as our children unwrap their gifts under the Christmas tree. However, in our tech-savvy world, it’s crucial to engage in a bit of “parent-proofing” before these shiny gadgets find their way into young hands. This proactive approach isn’t about being the “tech grinch” but rather ensuring that the technology aligns with our family values and safeguards our children’s well-being.
By following our simple steps, from ensuring devices are charged and secure to discussing responsible tech use through a Family Collective Agreement, we set the stage for a safer and more enjoyable digital environment. This holiday season, let the excitement of unwrapping tech gifts be accompanied by the confidence that comes from knowing you’ve parent-proofed their onlife world to the best of your abilities. Together, as tech-savvy parents, we can empower our kiddos to explore and grow responsibly in this ever-evolving onlife world.
Proper Pre-Planning Prevents Poor Christmas Tech Performance
Digital Food For Thought
The White Hatter
References
1/ https://www.youtube.com/live/-qVgQ-kWfDQ?feature=shared
3/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/weve-crafted-a-holiday-themed-family-collective-agreement/
4/ https://thewhitehatter.ca/blog/a-transformational-approach-to-parenting-in-todays-onlife-world/
