Kids And Tech: The Challenges And Fixes

Some people would argue that kids and tech are not a good mixture. However, the truth of the matter is that tech is just as good for children as it is for adults, perhaps in different ways but that doesn’t diminish the fact that tech can be fantastic. This is not to say though that there are no challenges that you are up against as a parent when it comes to your kids being on technology. In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the challenges that you could be facing, and how you can go about fixing them. Keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Energy Trouble 

One of the biggest challenges that you are going to face when it comes to tech and kids is energy usage. We all know that the cost of energy is going up, hitting an all time high, but your kids don’t know that. They don’t know that when they leave their consoles on overnight that it’s using a whole load of electricity and costing you a tonne of money. They also don’t know that if they leave multiple things plugged in and on all the time that this is going to be using a lot of energy also.

So, how can you go about fixing this? Well, you need to make sure that your kids understand that they should be turning their tech off when they are not using it. This goes for everything from their computers to their games consoles. You can also go in and make sure that it’s all turned off just before they go to sleep. Or, you can take their devices from them when they go to bed (depending on their age) and charge it for them so that it doesn’t stay plugged in overnight.

Safety Concerns 

Of course, parents are always cornered about their child’s safety when it comes to the internet and technology. When you play games online, you have the opportunity to talk to other people playing the game if you are playing in this setting, and this can be dangerous. Kids don’t always understand the dangers of this kind of thing, so it’s up to you to make sure that they either have their microphone off and are not using it to communicate with others, or disable party chat.

Tech Failures 

Have you heard of the yellow light of doom? How about the blue light of death? Every beloved piece of tech that you or your kids might own has a similar term like this attached to it. It refers to the point of no return. Ultimately, it means that you won’t be able to reset it and get it to function properly once more. Computers will usually have blue screens when this happens. It suggests a hardware issue rather than a problem with software which can be corrected with an update.

Problems like this can lead to tantrums, cries and expensive replacements. The question you’re probably asking yourself is whether there’s a way to prevent issues like this. While they may not be fully preventable, there are steps you can take to ensure that your child’s tech continues to function the right way.

For instance, you need to ensure that it is turned off correctly. Switching tech off at the wall is one of the easiest ways to cause system issues. You should also ensure that your systems are regularly maintained. If you let your system get clogged up with extra files and things that you don’t need, then a system shutdown becomes more likely. You can clean up everything from a Mac to a computer or even a games console. If you look here, you can find advice on the best ways to clean up your mac. 

Addiction 

You might also want to think about the issue of addiction. When we hear the term addiction, we often think about things like an addiction to alcohol, drugs or smoking. THe reality of course is that anything can be addicting and technology can absolutely cause issues here. Indeed, some technology and software has been found to be just as addictive as crack cocaine. This might explain why children will often have trouble letting go of their tech, controlling its usage through the day and saying goodbye when it is time for bed. 

So, what’s the solution? Well, you can use different types of software to set up parental locks on devices. Used correctly, this can prevent your children from playing on different types of tech constantly. For instance, the Nintendo Switch has parental locks that are incredibly easy to use and simple to manage. 

As well as parental locks, you might also want to think about managing how much time they are spending on different pieces of tech manually. Essentially, you need to set times so the kids get used to not going over the limit.

There are very clear signs of tech addictions. This includes tantrums and mood changes which are similar to symptoms of withdrawal when they can’t access their favorite pieces of tech. 

Expense 

Next, you should think about the expense of technology. With the festive season right around the corner, then the Christmas lists could be coming in. If you have kids over the age of ten, you’ll find that most of what they ask for is expensive pieces of tech. Or, it could be items related to technology like this. That could include:

Ipads

Games consoles

Computers

Laptops

Phones

The list goes on. The question is how can you handle this type of cost? Well, there are a few options worth considering here. First, it’s worth waiting for the sales. The November sales always result in massive price drops for expensive and popular pieces of tech. This can help a lot if you are a parent. 

You might also want to think about checking for refurbished items. These can be found online in fantastic condition. The only issue you should be aware of is that they are probably not going to last more than a couple of years. So, do make sure that the price that they are being sold at reflects this particular reality. 

Keeping Tech Protected 

Finally, it’s important to make sure that you are taking steps to keep any technology that your child is using protected. Tech is always going to be expensive. Whether it’s a new laptop or the latest iPhone. Ultimately, you could find that you have thousands of dollars worth of tech in your child’s bedroom alone. That’s excluding the rest of the house which might have its own fair share of gadgets and gizmos. 

The problem here is that children aren’t always careful. Sure, they might think they are old enough to play certain games on an iPad. But they are old enough to keep it safe without help? Honestly, probably not. The good news is that there are a few steps that you can take to avoid a most expensive replacement. For instance, you might want to think about investing in a heavy duty carry case. You could also opt for a screen protector. Kids will complain that this slows down movements on their favorite touch screens. However, there are now settings that you can change on a lot of tech devices for accommodating this. 

You might also want to think about checking your insurance policy to guarantee that it’s easy and simple to replace tech like this. 

We hope this helps you understand the key steps that you should take to solve the issues that you can experience with kids and tech. By exploring the right options you can avoid a situation where tech becomes the bane of your existence as a parent. 

Collaboration.