Best of the Web: Delaying social media for teens, and more

(Annalisa Barbieri, The Guardian)

When your teen comes to you wanting social media, it can be fraught with worry and cause many a heated discussion. In this article, the author explains how she approached the conversation with her then-14-year-old daughter and also shares her now 20-year-old daughter’s take.

The author emphasises the importance of understanding your child’s perspective and concerns regarding social media. Quoting child and adolescent psychotherapist Ryan Lowe: ‘The times they fight hardest for social media are when they are very young and least able to manage it. I definitely wouldn’t allow it in early puberty’.

The author suggests discussing topics like privacy, online safety, and the impact of social media on mental health. She goes on to encourage parents to set clear boundaries while also allowing room for exploration and learning.

‘We never banned devices, because we understood their appeal. They were never used as reward or punishment either. Tech was not fetishised. It was treated like any other thing you had to learn to use responsibly and appropriately, like knives. Or chainsaws.’

The author’s daughter sums it up succinctly saying, ‘I am so glad I entered social media as a fully formed person rather than being formed by it’. This shows that by fostering honest and ongoing dialogue, parents can help their children navigate the complexities of the digital world with confidence and resilience.

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(Aditi Shrikant, CNBC)

When you hear ‘co-regulation’, you might not immediately consider it a parenting term. Yet it’s a fresh approach to parenting, emphasising the collaboration between parents and children in managing their emotions and behaviour.

The author discusses how co-regulation differs from traditional authoritarian or permissive parenting styles, focusing on mutual respect and understanding. She writes, ‘Co-regulation refers to an adult helping a child soothe their own emotions during a stressful incident’.

The article provides practical tips for implementing co-regulation, such as active listening and modelling self-regulation techniques. Child psychologist and author Mona Delahooke says, ‘You can have sturdiness, set boundaries and limits, and provide emotional safety at the same time’.

The article stresses the significance of parental consistency and patience in this process. Overall, co-regulation aims to empower children to become emotionally resilient and independent individuals. Rather than imposing rules, try fostering a collaborative relationship with your kids — it may just lead to a healthier and happier family dynamic.

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(Taku Mbudzi, ABC Everyday)

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