Supporting your child in the digital age.

Technology opens up many opportunities for children to learn, create, and develop skills. The important thing is parental involvement in helping children use technology correctly, safely, and effectively.

Mr. Tran Hoang Bao instructs his child on how to operate the robot. Photo: KIEU DIEM

Studying with your child

In the study corner of Tran Dang Quan, an 8th-grade student at Le Quy Don Junior High School in Rach Gia ward, the computer is not only a means of entertainment but also an important learning tool. Nguyen Thi Phong Lan, Quan's mother, believes that students' learning today is very different from before. They no longer just sit and listen to lectures, take notes, and do homework; they must also proactively find materials, work in groups, give presentations, design slideshows, and present their ideas to the class.

According to Ms. Lan, to teach children in the digital age, parents must proactively explore learning methods and how to do homework using applications. During his studies, Quan often independently researched tools to assist with homework and design presentations. Sometimes, Quan found that the free features didn't meet his learning needs, so he discussed it with his mother about purchasing paid software. Instead of hastily agreeing or refusing, Ms. Lan and her son researched whether the software was truly necessary and suitable for his studies. Only when she found it appropriate did she register him for use. "I have to do my research to guide my son," Ms. Lan shared.

Although she allows her son to use computers, Ms. Lan still clearly controls his study and entertainment time. According to Ms. Lan, self-study and research on computers and smartphones are increasingly important, but children still need limits to avoid excessive entertainment. Fortunately, Quân has a strong spirit of self-study, enjoys reading, and knows how to search for information on the internet. For issues requiring research, Ms. Lan even asks her son for help because children learn faster than adults.

Gone are the days when children passively obeyed their parents' every word. Teaching children in the digital age requires parents to actively learn alongside their children to understand software and applications used for learning. Technology can be a concern if children use it without control, but it can also be a useful tool if guided correctly. A computer might lead children astray into games, but it can also help them learn programming, create presentations, read documents, learn foreign languages, and develop creative thinking.

From gaming enthusiast to technology lover.

Mr. Tran Hoang Bao, residing in Rach Gia ward, has an older son in 12th grade, a younger son in 6th grade, and a youngest daughter in preschool. Initially, Mr. Bao was worried about his son's addiction to video games and tried to stop him, but he realized that simply prohibiting it wouldn't be effective in the long run.

Mr. Bao proactively researched how to write code, program games, and develop robotics to guide his children in learning and playing according to their interests. According to him, if children enjoy playing games, parents can help them understand that behind a game lies programming thinking, character design, rule building, problem-solving, and product creation.

Thanks to proper guidance, Mr. Bao's children participated in programming and robotics competitions and won high awards at the national level. His son even had the opportunity to participate in a STEM competition in Germany. For Mr. Bao, teaching children in the digital age means transforming their interests into motivations for learning and developing their abilities.

According to Mr. Bao, children today are no longer suited to one-sided, authoritarian teaching methods. Parents can't just say, "You must do this or that," but need to help their children recognize problems, analyze, find solutions, work in teams, delegate tasks, and collaboratively complete projects. Besides learning programming or robotics, Mr. Bao's children are also trained in soft skills such as cooking, making drinks, repairing things, or creating items from readily available materials. Mr. Bao believes children need to know how to use technology, but also how to work, observe life, and handle basic tasks independently. Especially, English is an indispensable skill, as it is the key to helping them access materials, software, technological knowledge, and international platforms.

In a rapidly changing world, parents don't necessarily need to be more tech-savvy than their children, but they need to be close enough for their children to ask questions, understanding enough for them to trust and share, and patient enough to support them. In the digital age, the gap between parents and children is not only about age but also about access to technology. If adults remain outside their children's digital world, education easily becomes authoritarian. Conversely, when parents are willing to learn alongside their children, listen to them, and analyze right and wrong together, technology becomes a bridge instead of a barrier.

KIEU DIEM

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/dong-hanh-cung-con-thoi-dai-so-a486744.html