Raising kids is never going to be easy, as parents we have so much responsibility to look after our little ones and give them the very best start in life. But in our generation is unique in that we face unprecedented challenges- we’re raising children in a world that’s very different to the one that we grew up in ourselves. The advancements of technology, the accessibility of the internet and the way the world is so highly connected now is completely different to what we experienced as children, and that can come with many challenges. Here are some of the struggles that parents tend to face this day in age, and how you can overcome them.
Technology
As kids ourselves, we didn’t grow up with technology. We didn’t have phones, tablets, computers. Our basic video game system and television were not as advanced as what’s available now. These days things are all different, and we have to worry about protecting our kids from things like cyber bullying, adult material, and much more. Make sure you’re using relevant child shielding and parental settings on your child’s data plan and your wifi, and educate them on the risks. Social media sites like Snapchat and Tiktok can be appealing to kids, but there are risks too. Make sure you’re bearing in mind the age limits to signing up. The more open you and your child are, the more likely they are to tell you if anything has happened online which you can then investigate.
Health
Chances are, you were raised on simple but healthy home-cooked dinners. Meat, potatoes, vegetables- the family would sit down at the table each evening and eat together. Things can be very different these days. Changes in working hours might mean you, your spouse, and kids rarely get to sit down together and eat. Many families these days now have to have two working parents rather than just one, so the traditional homemaker role has changed. You have less time to keep the house and spend time preparing and cooking food, so easy and convenient meals are commonplace. On top of this, access to cheap and unhealthy (yet delicious) foods are available on every corner, we can order takeaways from our phone to our door and the nearest drive-thru is never far away. This can make eating healthily more challenging for the modern family compared with our parents and grandparents before us. Taking the time to meal prep when you have time, plan healthy, budget meals in advance and schedule time to eat together can be highly beneficial for the health of your family.
Dangerous Fads
Kids and teens have been known to do some stupid things over the years. Since their brains aren’t fully developed and they don’t have the life experience to appreciate the true risks their actions can have, they can be more likely to partake in dangerous fads. Some common ones over the years have been the ‘tide pod challenge’ ‘cinnamon challenge’ and ‘choking game’ and all can have utterly disastrous results. Risk-taking behavior can also relate to drugs, alcohol, cutting, and sexual behavior too. Kids want to fit in and peer pressure can be a concern with these things, so again, being open with your child and encouraging them to speak to you is the best thing. Educate them on the dangers of these dangerous activities to help them navigate the many decisions before them.