I feel guilty that I allow the Internet to “babysit” my kids. How can I have meaningful, quality time with them this summer?
The Internet has become an important part of modern day living. It provides a world of useful information that makes life easier. But, the Internet can be distracting and a source of all kinds of negative and harmful things! We can spend hours on the Internet with our gadgets, smart phones, and tablets and hardly notice how much time has passed.
Summer is a great time to practice putting limits on our use of the Internet and all that social media offers us. Let’s take the time to really do things as a family again instead of just sitting in the same room while we all use our individual devices.
Here are some things to do together:
- Put a ban on gadgets (cell phones, tablets, etc.) during meal times. This is the time to talk and communicate more.
- Engage in physical activities…walk, jog, run, or go biking together.
- Get feedback concerning your kids’ favorite sites. Calmly discuss pros and cons of what this world of digital communication does to influence the way we think and act.
Practice having a “daily shutdown”, no surfing on the web, no games on gadgets at bedtime. You can get better sleep.
Don’t allow the Internet to parent your children! Remember what the Bible says: “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
