“Digital parents” need to be responsible role models, and to establish communication and trust so that children will discuss their autonomous online activities openly. Digital parents should also understand what style of parenting works best for their families so that their children not only participate in the digital age, but actually thrive, while being protected from any risks posed by this new environment. Finally, parents and caregivers are called upon to closely watch their own behaviours, for example as they share online content, as they use digital technologies throughout the day, or as they allow their children to access these technologies.
The underlying goal of the approach of “positive digital parenting”, promoted through this guide, is to provide children with adequate resources to engage in the digital environment safely and responsibly. The aim of the guide is also to propose a sustainable digital parenting model to be applied to different scenarios, today and in the future.
INTRODUCTION
CHILDREN IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT
DIGITAL PARENTING STYLES
DIGITAL PARENTING STRATEGIES
DIGITAL PARENTING SCENARIOS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
A FINAL WORD