In an age where digital technology is now a norm in many households, many aspects of a child’s life are affected. This includes academics, relationships and personal development, which is why it is important for parents to help kids develop self regulation.

Self- regulation is the ability of a person to control his/her impulses and solve problems. This is an important trait for young children to develop as they continue to interact with digital technology, but it is also difficult to achieve.

Content that kids will lean more towards is often fast-paced and highly stimulating. This can lead to kids becoming less and less prone to becoming self-regulating individuals because they become so enticed with pieces of media that are of this nature.

According to Psychology Today, children who have higher self-regulation will more likely be able to put down their gadgets or turn off the TV’s before mealtimes. Overall these children also have a tendency to have less screen time. The study mentioned in this article also tackles poor self-regulation and problematic digital device use. Emotional dysregulation is a term that is used to refer to problems with self-regulation. This can come in the form of distress build up, indicating that a child does not know how to handle expressing their emotions in a healthy way.

Developing self-regulation starts in the home. Teaching children to reflect on their actions when they make a mistake or do something bad also helps develop self-regulation. Parents are also responsible for creating a healthy and supportive environment for their children to let them express their emotions and discourage them from turning to technology for every purpose that comes to mind. For instance, encouraging a child to take breaks when they are tired from doing homework and to play outside or with toys for a change can help them turn their attention away from using technology too much while indirectly helping them develop emotional maturity.

Children do not learn things on their own, and should therefore receive guidance from parental figures as frequently as possible. Although self-regulation is something that a child can develop mostly with time and through trying different things, parents should be able to support and provide care for their kids in ways that will help them mature and learn when technology use is appropriate.

References:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/evidence-based-living/202508/what-we-know-about-self-regulation-and-technology-among-kidshttps://childmind.org/article/can-help-kids-self-regulation/