Parenting News: Dads are Using Technology to Bond with Their Kids
Trying to get kids off their smartphones and tablets is verging on a nightmare so if you can’t beat them, join them!
Dads all over the UK are getting to grips with technology in order to keep connected with their kids.
Just under a quarter of dads said that they use their tablet to play games with their children in order to bond.
One in ten dads would even go so far as to say that watching a Youtube video together qualifies as spending quality time with one another.
It seems that mums prefer the traditional texting method of communication, whereas dads said that they keep in touch with their kids via mobile internet.
Parents are also using technology to keep their kids in check. Almost half of UK parents said they have pretended to ring the police to stop their child acting up.
A fifth of parents admitted to using their smartphone to film their child’s tantrum and show it back to them.
Dads are becoming much more innovative and using their smartphone to Google their child’s tricky homework questions and then taking the credit themselves!
‘Bringing up Charlie’ blogger and father of three (aged 15, 5 and 2) Tim Atkinson, says, “Mobile technology plays a huge role in my day-to-day life both as a blogger and as a stay-at-home Dad.
“With my eldest child, we would need to wait until photographs were developed to be able to show off to family and friends.
“Now, thanks to the mobile internet, I am able to keep family and friends in the loop instantly with news and pictures and rely on it heavily to connect with my eldest across social media.”
Both mums and dads admitted that their parenting has been changed by technology. Dads say it allows them to connect with their children easier whereas mums say it allows them to access information quickly on the go.
Joe Parker, Director of Online at Three, who conducted the research, says, “British families and dads in particular have embraced mobile technology in a bid to facilitate everyday parenting. From being able to connect to your child at the touch of a button, to helping to answer difficult questions and taking photos to share with friends and family both here and abroad.
“Our research has also found that the mobile internet is allowing parents across the UK to boast about their child’s talent. One in 10 dads has posted a funny video of their child to YouTube in the hope that it will go viral like ‘Charlie Bit My Finger’. Being a fan of the silly stuff, we’re hoping to see more mini YouTube sensations making it big thanks to their digital savvy dads and mums.”
Has technology changed the way you parent your children? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @FemaleFirst_UK
Tagged in Parenting Technology Smartphones Dads Parenting News