Written by, Kalpita
26th Feb 2025
“The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.” -Peggy O’Mara
Your choices today, as parents, create your young childrens’ emotional legacy tomorrow. Time to reflect on your content consumption habits and it’s impact on your parenting practice. Choose the option that best describes you and discover actionable insights to enhance your approach.
1. When your child is feeling upset, you typically:
a) Immediately show them a funny video to cheer them up.
b) Read a story about characters who are dealing with similar emotions.
c) Talk it out, sometimes referencing stories or videos.
2. To increase your knowledge about parenting, you usually:
a) Watch parenting tips or videos on social media.
b) Read parenting books or short child psychology reads.
c) Attend parenting workshops/classes.
3. While explaining something complicated to your child, you mostly:
a) Find a short, animated educational video.
b) Use analogies from books you read with them.
c) Draw diagrams or use physical objects to show them.
4. Your daily routine in the family, at most times, includes:
a) At least an hour of screen time for entertainment.
b) A time that has no screen.
c) A disproportionate mix of screen and non-screen activities.
5. When your child asks about what is happening around them, you mostly:
a) Watch the news together, getting child-friendly clips.
b) You explain it using ideas from books you have read.
c) You explain in your own words and find child-friendly examples to add on.
6. In developing your child's creativity, you go for:
a) Apps and digital drawing tools.
b) Traditional art supplies and telling stories.
c) An imbalanced mix of digital and non-digital creative activities.
7. When teaching your child about feelings, you mostly use:
a) Videos or apps about feelings.
b) Books about feelings or stories about emotional intelligence.
c) Role-playing different situations and talking.
8. For going to sleep calmly, you mostly:
a) Watch videos/shows on screen.
b) Read a bedtime storybook.
c) Talk over the day's events and how it made you feel.
9. To spend time with your child, you most often:
a) Play games or watch something digital together.
b) Read books or narrate to one another.
c) Engage in outdoor activities or some hands-on games.
10. When a challenge related to parenting is at hand, you straightaway:
a) Search for quick online tips or parenting hacks.
b) Refer to parenting books or child development reads.
c) Discuss with other parents or a professional.
Time to Get to Know Yourself:
If you selected mostly A's: You are a proud Digital Navigator, expertly charting your course through the digital landscape.
If you selected mostly B's: You are a thoughtful Literary Explorer, delving into the world of words and ideas with curiosity and depth.
If you selected mostly C's: You aspire to be a Balanced Cultivator, nurturing growth and harmony in all aspects of your life.
Key Take-Aways For All:
Dear Digital Navigators:
- Establish a daily reading time of 15 minutes with your child.
- Try replacing one video-watching session with storytelling/reading.
- Explore emotion-focused reads to complement digital learning.
Dear Literary Explorers:
- Incorporate educational videos to supplement book reads.
- Explore digital creativity tools to support traditional methods.
- Use social media to find and connect with other book-loving families.
Dear Balanced Cultivators:
- Create a weekly schedule balancing screen and non-screen activities.
- Start a family book club, discussing both print and digital reads.
- Have reflective discussions with your child about various media's pros and cons.
Remember, the goal is to help your child develop emotional intelligence and learn in a way that works for YOUR family. Take these insights and create a rich, balanced learning environment that takes advantage of the best in both, digital and traditional resources.
