Helping Our Kids Manage Technology Well

It’s ironic, but true. In an age when technology connects us more than ever, teenagers are lonelier and more disconnected than any previous generation.

In the five years prior to the pandemic, the number of high school seniors who said they felt lonely dramatically increased – from 26 percent to almost 40 percent. In the past year, that percentage has increased to well over 50 percent.

Even taking Covid restrictions into account, today’s kids don’t engage face to face as much as past generations did. They’re far less likely to go to parties with friends, go to the mall, or hang out together. They’d rather connect with friends through their smartphones or gaming systems instead of face to face.

The trouble is, all of that virtual connection creates real-life loneliness, which leads to bigger problems, like substance abuse and suicide.

Screen time is a battle every parent faces. While technology is a great tool, it can also be a distraction. At its worst, it can derail a child’s development and family relationships.

Despite these dangers, children live in a tech-driven world and need to learn to how to balance appropriate tech use with healthy boundaries.

On our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Helping Our Kids Manage Technology Well,” Dr. Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane reveal how technology is impacting our kids’ brains, changing their relationships, endangering their safety, and compromising their emotional health.

They share five social skills every child needs to be successful in life:

Affection.
Anger management.
Appreciation.
Apology.
Attention.

They also offer solid insight about technology and digital devices along with some practical tools for connecting with your children in the midst of their tech-driven world.

Listen to our full conversation on your local radio station, online, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or on our free phone app.

Dr. Gary Chapman and Arlene Pellicane have written a book together called Screen Kids: 5 Relational Skills Every Child Needs in a Tech-Driven World. It’s full of solid insight and practical help for you and your family when it comes to technology and is available for a gift of any amount. Visit our website or give us a call at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).