When children and grandchildren become technology "teachers".

Technology helps bring parents and children closer together. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

Special Class

Ms. Mai, an office worker residing in Hanh Thong ward (Ho Chi Minh City), recounts that she vividly remembers the first time she received a text message from her mother. A few short words, mostly misspelled, without accents, but her heart suddenly tightened. She felt both joy and deep emotion. It was completely different from the familiar phone calls, and unlike the old handwritten letters her mother used to write. Something very modern and new, yet still imbued with familiar affection. Now, her family has a group chat called "Family Group," where her mother sends pictures of newly planted potted plants, and her father inquires about the children's health. It's also where her siblings exchange information about everything from buying clean meat to preparing for ancestral commemoration days. They don't talk all the time, but the feeling of connection, of being able to see and text each other anytime, makes her feel like her family is much closer.

It all started one evening in Mai's small apartment. Her 14-year-old son, Duc Minh, was playing on his phone when his grandmother brought over a smartphone given to her by her eldest son (Minh's uncle) and asked her to show her how to use it. From then on, every night, the grandmother and grandson would huddle together around the phone. "I can't press anything, why are there so many letters popping up?" she asked. Minh gently replied, "You have to turn off notifications by going here…". The two of them busied themselves, one patiently guiding the other, the other carefully demonstrating.

Such "classes" are increasingly appearing in Vietnamese families, where children and grandchildren become reluctant "technology teachers" for their parents and grandparents. The elderly are beginning to enter the digital space, as smartphones, Zalo, Facebook, banking apps, online documents, surveillance cameras, etc., have become essential parts of life. Learning technology among the older generation is no longer a rare "trend." And the instructors are often their own children and grandchildren, teaching everything from how to take photos, download apps, check health information, and protect against scams, to how to "press a star to send stickers with music."

Older adults go online, experiencing both love and worry.

Ms. Ha Linh (32 years old, living in Dien Hong ward, Ho Chi Minh City) said: “I installed Facebook for my mother and showed her how to post. The first time, she took a picture of... the kettle and wrote the caption: "Refreshing the kettle every now and then". Not only that, she also mistakenly tagged my name as... the name of a cosmetics shop because she saw the beautiful words"! The whole family laughed out loud.

Many older people, when first entering the world of technology, unintentionally create awkward situations. From replying to messages by writing... publicly, to sending the wrong photos, or even being tricked by malicious individuals... These "technological mishaps" sometimes leave their children and grandchildren confused, but they also provide moments of relaxation and bonding between generations.

However, guiding grandparents and parents in using technology is not easy. "You're showing me too fast, I didn't have time to see," or "It's all in English, how would I understand?" are common phrases heard by "technology teachers." Sometimes, a training session can end in angry silence, because the instructor gets discouraged, and the recipient... gets annoyed!

Although adoption has been somewhat slow, the entry of older adults into the digital space is bringing about many positive changes. Thanks to knowing how to use Zalo, a grandfather can video call his grandchildren abroad. On YouTube, a grandmother can listen to traditional Vietnamese opera and learn new cooking recipes. Many older adults even use social media as a way to "rejuvenate" themselves: posting travel photos, showing off their plants, and sharing stories from their youth...

Mr. Tu (65 years old, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City) laughed and said, "Back then, I thought Facebook was only for kids with nothing better to do. Now I have over a hundred friends, and I post anything fun I find. The kids even comment and praise me for being so cool!"

Of course, sometimes that enthusiasm for social media goes a little too far. For example, sharing fake news, harmful links, or getting involved in unverified online trading groups. In such situations, the presence of children and grandchildren acts as a kind and necessary "censor."

Ha My (23 years old, a student in Ho Chi Minh City) shared: “At first, I found it difficult having to show my mother every step of the way, but later I realized that it brought us closer. My mother now uses food delivery apps, searches for flight tickets herself, and even teaches me how to bake.”

The technological exchange between generations, if nurtured with love and patience, will become a beautiful bridge. Parents and children will have more reasons to talk and grow closer, not just through keyboards but also in their hearts. For example, in some homes, a grandchild is patiently showing their grandfather how to take a vertical photo, or a child is showing their mother how to use an app to book a doctor's appointment. Young people cultivate patience and caring. Older adults not only learn the skills but also learn to open their hearts to a new world.

HOANG MY

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/khi-con-chau-la-giao-vien-cong-nghe-post811926.html