In these days when technology is so powerful, it is time to use it for our benefit.It is normal to feel lost about how to use technology safely and effectively. That is why, in the following lines, we will give you some recommendations for integrating it into your daily life for the benefit of your children.Technology is very close to all of us and is part of our lives. Just think, for example, of the devices we use to communicate, receive information, carry out procedures, etc. Using the technological tools at our disposal offers benefits such as improving administrative activities, reducing working time, and having virtual assistants available at any time of the day to answer questions.When we talk about introducing technology to children between 6 and 12 years of age, conversations usually focus on finding a balance between taking advantage of the benefits it offers and finding ways to mitigate the risks they may face.Among the benefits obtained is being able to help your children reinforce some school content, making learning more motivating for them. It can also help foster their creativity with editing and design programs. It is also a window to information, allowing them to explore the most distant corners of the world or the most interesting facts about the universe.To make better use of technology with your children, we suggest that the way you use it be focused on one of the following points:Learning and playing. Use play as a pretext to help them connect with a school subject such as mathematics, English or reading.Searching for answers and creating new questions. You will not always have all the answers to their questions, so use tools such as apps or trusted websites to look for solutions.Exploring and discovering. Invite them to discover new places and to feed their dreams by learning about places, cultures, communities, etc., from all over the world.When your children are using technology for any of the actions mentioned above, your role will be to guide or accompany them, getting involved in what they are doing, asking questions and helping them discover beyond what they can explore on their own. The way you are able to accompany them will strengthen your relationship and will make them feel confident when using technology.Some of the sites you can explore with your children are:Khan Academy, which provides content organised by educational level and offers exercises and videos on different school topics and subjects.Scratch, which is ideal for awakening interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and where they can create using programming language at different levels.National Geographic Kids, known for its documentaries and information on the environment, geography, cultures, communities and science; the site encourages curiosity and appreciation for the natural world.In a sea of information like the one we have today, it is definitely imperative to keep certain considerations about safety in the digital age in mind. This is a necessary conversation that you must have with your children so that they recognise the importance of not sharing personal information, identifying inappropriate websites, knowing reliable sources of information such as sites belonging to educational institutions or well-known organisations, and filtering the information they find by using effective search engines.To achieve this, you can create clear and simple rules that are easy to follow. Instead of just forbidding things, make the rules together, set time periods for screen use and make sure that screens are used with a specific purpose.It is important to understand that technology is a complement, a tool and not a substitute.Preparing them for the future is one of the principles that sets us apart as an institution, since the world is constantly changing and we want your children to grow up happy and confident. Technology is a great ally in achieving this and is also part of the holistic development that we care about. Remember that technology is an educational adventure for the whole family; learning together opens doors for your children, encouraging them to explore, discover and go further.
