In a world fueled by digital resources, apps, and devices, technology at your fingertips, and social media persuasion, it can be challenging to find a comfortable level of technology use for the entire family. As a mom of two, when my children were very young, I stated technology would be a privilege and educational right that needed to be monitored and treated with respect. It is a challenging expectation to uphold at times, but family always comes first and even though technology is the way of the world, and moving forward with the times is necessary, so is positive social interactions with family and friends. If you set the appropriate boundaries for using technology early on and stay true to these boundaries, technology can be fun and useful for kids of all ages. Read on for pros and cons of technology use for children of every age.

Pro:

Technology is here to stay. It can be a great tool for learning and engaging children in various educational ways. Since our future workforce will be mostly digital, preparing kids to be experts in technology will be beneficial to their future careers.

Con:

Even though technology is here to stay, it can still be challenging for parents to monitor everything their children watch online. Depending on what our children see and hear on the internet. itcan mold their views and opinions in a way that may not be the whole truth. In order to help mediate this, parents can use specific parental controls to help monitor what their children watch when you can’t be near them.

Pro:

Technology can be balanced effectively if parents or family members set screen time limits on a daily basis. 

Con:

Some parents complain when they set limits for their children, they tend to have a negative reaction to these technology limits by complaining that they're bored or unhappy when they don't have access to technology or have a tantrum or harsh resistance when you set screen time limits. In addition, if limits for technology are not set, excessive screen time may interfere with your child’s sleep, school interactions and face-to-face communication.

Pro:

Technology can be used efficiently and safely if we set boundaries for when and where we use technology in our homes. When a family sets the appropriate boundaries for technology, for example, when driving phones are away and texting is not a priority, children see a positive role model they want to do the same thing in order to meet their family's expectations. Creating rules for technology use and social media platforms will help your child(ren) be successful with and without technology. 

Con:

We live in a very busy world, and there are times when technology needs to be used immediately to email a colleague, respond to an administrator’s text, or even use a social media platform to disengage from the real world. When this happens explain the situation to the family and review the rules you and your family developed in order to use technology in a positive way. Here are a few ideas for families if they need ideas of how to set appropriate boundaries. Try your best to keep technology use to a bare minimum when:

• picking up or dropping children at school, as this is a transitional time for them

• coming home from work, as that's time to reconnect with your family

• It’s mealtime, at home and when out to eat with the family

• here are family outings like trips to the park or zoo or vacations. Note: taking photographs with your cell phone is not the same as taking photographs then posting them on social media.

Pro:

Educational technology can be used in various ways in and out of school to help students engage with learning and it can help children practice new skills on their own in a fun and exciting way. There are many free technology resources for kids of all ages and they can be very helpful for parents who are unsure how to help their students achieve educational success.

Con:

In a world that is always changing and moving forward, educational technology can be an easy way for parents to say their child is practicing skills that allow them to grow. Unfortunately, not every single educational resource is the best resource for positive technology use. Parents and families should still vet the programs their kids use by trying them out on their own first, getting recommendations from the child’s district or teacher, and choosing age-appropriate and interest appropriate technology for each child in the family. 

Less is more in the case of educational technology. As a parent of boy/girl five-year-old twins whose interests are vastly different, I understand firsthand how many different resources can quickly stack up. One thing we do in our family to combat the abundance of apps and games is, we have a list of 12-16 educational resources we love, and my kids get to choose three each month they can use independently. This gives my kiddos free choice, and it gives me peace of mind. I know what my kiddos are practicing will help them achieve academic and social-emotional success.