Photo by Vitaly Gariev, Unsplash.

A few nights ago, a friend of mine who has two young kids sighed and said, “I honestly don’t know what to do. I don’t want my kids to fall behind, but every time they pick up the tablet, I feel this knot in my stomach. What if they see something inappropriate? What if they get addicted? What if the virtual world becomes more real to them than the real one?”

Her concern made perfect sense.

We sat down together and came up with a list of simple, practical ideas that might help parents find a healthy balance between learning and safety.

Here’s what we came up with:

• Set clear and predictable time limits: The tablet shouldn’t be available all the time. Define specific times for screen use, such as after homework or only on weekends.
• Practice respectful supervision, not over-control: Being a parent doesn’t mean being a police officer. Tools like Google Family Link can help you monitor activity without breaking trust.
• Choose purposeful content, not random scrolling: Instead of letting kids wander through endless videos, guide them toward age-appropriate educational apps or platforms.
• Be a model before being a mentor: Kids watch how we behave. When we manage our own screen time mindfully, they naturally start doing the same.
• Talk instead of restricting: Rules without communication only increase curiosity. Ask what they watched, what they learned, and how it made them feel.

Trust is still the best filter in the world. technology isn’t the enemy, but without awareness, it can quietly take control of our lives.

Disclaimer: I’m not a parent myself, but I deeply admire those who are navigating this new digital landscape with care. digital parenting might be one of the most important skills of our time.