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Kids & Technology

Why Technology Skills Are Essential For Kids

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Technology is a huge part of our lives, whether we like it or not. Unless we reclude ourselves far away in the woods, we are exposed to technology one way or another. It is better to accept it and teach our kids how to use technology for their benefit and protect themselves from online threats. Overall, having tech skills is a huge asset and it’s better to start acquiring them early in life. This article discusses why technology skills are essential for kids. 

Tech Savviness is a Must

Knowing about tech isn’t a hobby anymore; people in all professions need to be tech-savvy. You need basic tech knowledge to use a computer, search the Internet, manage a database, and do basic troubleshooting. No matter what your kid wants to be when they grow up, tech skills will always come handy.

Your kids can learn basic tech skills and then go on to acquire more advanced ones. Keep in mind that technology is disrupting many traditional jobs. Learning tech skills is a good bet because the careers of the future are likely to be tech-related. 

Problem-solving Skills

Learning tech skills helps kids develop a problem-solving mindset. Kids learn to overcome obstacles and persevere until they reach their goal. They don’t even have to learn a programming language for this; something as simple as playing videogames can help them develop problem-solving skills and an analytical mindset.

Videogames have a set of rules and obstacles that players must overcome. Kids learn to apply different strategies until they discover the most efficient one to beat the game. This transfers well to real-life situations where people have to think carefully about the best solution to a problem instead of simply stressing about it. 

Learning from Mistakes

The beauty of technology is that learning to use it is a process of trial and error. Most people don’t use a manual to learn how to use their new smartphone; they navigate through all the futures and apps to know what they do. The process is the same with any technology. 

This is even more so with technical skills like programming languages. Learning programming is all about making mistakes until you finally get it right. By honing their tech skills, kids learn not to get discouraged by their mistakes. Instead, they learn that making mistakes is the best way to learn new things.

Improving the Learning Process

Technology isn’t about replacing humans; it is about making our lives easier. Far from hindering it, being tech-savvy enhances the learning experience. There are already many tools that help kids learn at any time of the year and from any location. 

New technologies allow kids to learn online through videos, games and interactive homework. They can even learn on their own and research the topics they are interested in. All these benefits can quickly turn sour without proper parental supervision. Tech skills improve the learning experience but only if the right guidance is in place.

Entrepreneurial Mindset

One of the best parts of learning tech skills is that it gives kids more independence to explore and let their creative side run wild. This creativity —combined with problem-solving, analytical and perseverance skills—are the foundation of an entrepreneurial mindset. 

Many have become millionaires before even turning 18 using their tech skills. Also, even if your kid doesn’t become the next Mark Zuckerberg, learning tech skills will still help them improve their resume when they start looking for jobs.

How to start?

Nowadays, kids are almost born with a smartphone or tablet attached to their hands. But they should learn other useful tech skills besides games and how to watch Youtube videos. They will probably need them during their education and career, and starting from a young age can make a big difference. Some skills that aren’t highly technical, but that everyone should know are: 

Office and Google Suite

Microsoft Office and Google Suite are some of the most useful office software out there. They allow users to make, edit and design documents, presentations and spreadsheets. While Microsoft Office is based on the operating system of the device, Google Suite is based on the cloud.  

This software is used throughout the education system, starting from primary school. An expertly crafted PowerPoint presentation can go a long way in getting a person the promotion they want. Teach your kids this skill to improve their education and give them more opportunities in the future.  

Social Media

Social media has many applications besides interacting with friends. It also comes with many risks. Educating a young mind on everything a social media platform is and its power is essential to protect them. The earlier they learn about social media’s pros and cons, the better.

Safety

Online safety is a huge issue nowadays, especially when it comes to kids, who can be easily manipulated and scammed. There is also the problem of cyberbullying, which becomes more common as more kids have access to technology. Then there are also common cyber threats like viruses, ransomware, phishing and stalkers.

By teaching kids from a young age about these threats, they will be safer. They can learn about antiviruses, VPNs and how much information to share on the web.

In Summary

These skills are pretty basic and are a must for anyone. Although online security is essential, most people don’t give it the importance that it deserves. Your kids can also learn more advanced skills if they show an interest.

Many educational institutions offer coding bootcamps for kids. These courses introduce programming languages in a child-friendly way. Overall, having your kid learn tech skills can only improve their lives and safeguard their future.

Kids’ Use of Mobile Phones; And Keeping Them Safe While Doing It

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Kids Using SmartphonesStaying connected is the need of the hour. Be it an employee with his employer or be it children with their parents, mobile phones are given for immediate communication whenever a need arises. The reason why children are provided mobile phones by their parents is because they want to be in constant contact with their children as they are always concerned about their safety and whereabouts. This also gives the parents a sense of relief as they can contact their children whenever they need.

Children may have their own reason for having a cell phone too. It has become a status symbol and means of entertainment, apart from helping them to stay connected with their friends and family all the time. Studies revealed that 8 out of 10 kids use a cell phone and most of them are smart phones like iPhone, Blackberry and Android, which have endless features. Once a mobile phone falls into the hands of a kid, they have every reason of getting glued to it. One of the most commonly asked questions is ‘what exactly do kids do on their cell phones?’

Ill Effects of a Cell Phone

It is very necessary to know about the kind of activities the kids are involved in while using their cell phones. Due to their innocence, they may fall prey to some that have malicious things in mind. Parents may not be aware of this at all. Kids may upload several sensitive videos and photos unknowingly, which can be misused by many cyber criminals. This may bring down the hard earned reputation of your kid as well as yours.

Teenagers, mostly, can fall prey to these cyber criminals. Some people may lure them to send in their photographs in the name of love or friendship. Strangers asking to send videos in disguise of some known persons, inviting young kids to participate in some dirty chat rooms are some of the most common cyber traps. Once your kid falls into these traps, unknowingly, the criminals can then use these evidences to blackmail you, the parents, for some monetary benefits or other advantages. There are cases where even kids were used to gain monetary benefits by uploading their photographs and videos to adult sites.

Most parents find it difficult to track their kids in an attempt to keep them safe from these kinds of mishaps. If you are one of them, then you can now stop worrying and make use of mobile tracking software to keep your kids safe.

Mobile monitoring apps and computer monitoring software are designed for all kinds of mobile phones and tablets, which when installed, keeps track of all the activities performed on them. This way you will get to know what your kid is doing with his/her mobile, their surfing patterns, whom they are calling, what kind of messages they are receiving and from whom, what kind of multimedia messages are being sent and to whom, etc. In short, you will be able to see what your kid sees and will be able to listen to what your kid hears.

Most importantly, with the help of this mobile software, you can also find out the whereabouts of your kids. Knowing the whereabouts to ensure the safety of your kids is always a big relief to most every parent.

When Dad is Away: How to Keep in Touch With Your Kids

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Fathers are such an important and wonderful part of a child’s life. For both little boys and little girls, Daddy is the first hero–the one boys want to grow up to be and the one girls want their husband to be like. The world is not perfect these days and many children are in situations where they are not with Daddy everyday–whether the separation is due to divorce, jobs or other situations.

There are many ways Dads can stay close to their children even when they are not present every day. Here are five ways to bridge the separation gap:

1. Phone Calls– hearing Dad’s voice and being able to talk to him in real time is priceless for kids when Dad is away. Often kids have questions or just want to hear his voice. A simple phone call goes a long way to keeping kids connected to an absent father. With today’s technology, video calling is often possible, letting kids see and hear Daddy.

2. Videos– in this day and age of technology, Dads can use smartphones to make fast yet priceless videos to send to their children when they cannot be together. Sometimes phone calls are not an option or far too fleeting for kids to cling to. For younger children, a video of Daddy reading a story to them can be a great connection at bedtime or any other time. For older kids, a video of Dad talking to them, telling a few corny jokes or telling about something interesting he saw/read that day can touch base and let them know Dad is still with them even when he is away.

3. Presents– sending gifts to kids from afar is as easy as shopping online and clicking the buttons. Kids enjoy receiving a package from Dad while he is away and will be able to think about him while they enjoy the toy, book or such that he picked out just for them. Knowing that Dad took the time to choose something fun and send it will bring warm feelings to the child until he or she can see their father in person again.

4. Letters– kids love to get mail and a card or note from Dad while he is not with them. It is an easy way to stay in touch. Timing mail to arrive often will give the child something to look forward to as a way to connect with Dad. Kids often like to keep the letters close to them to look at again and again.

5. Pictures– both Dad and the kids can send photos to each other, keeping everyone in the loop as to what is going on from day to day. With smartphones and email, this is very easily done for most people.

Keeping in touch on a daily basis is important for kids and parents, even if the physical presence is not always possible. Besides divorce separation, sometimes Dads simply work opposite shifts and cannot spend much awake time with the kids, or he may be a soldier and be deployed far away. Whatever the case may be, these tips can help Dads and children stay in touch daily and stay connected to each other’s lives. Of course, it is up to mothers and caregivers to help facilitate these connections. When the time comes that fathers and children can be together in person, the relationship is strong and there is no awkwardness or disconnection. The strong, loving presence of a father is important to raising a happy, healthy child.