THERE was a funny posting on social media, Facebook to be precise last week which read that it was common to find parents these days with old and empty mobile phones, sometimes so old that they are only held together by a rubber band while  their school going children are brandishing  smart phones loaded with a lot of  air time than them.
The posting further read that if you are such a child, the lightning that will strike you is still doing pushups.
As funny as the posting sounded, it was tempting to agree with its message because it made a little bit of sense. It is not strange to find school going children having some of the most exquisite smart phones on the market.
The kids are putting their parents under pressure for them to buy these gadgets for them.
One would not be surprised that sometimes it is at the expense of school fees.
Because of parents’ love for their little ones, they give in, but are they really doing this in the name of love?
The Facebook posting brought memories of another social media message that was doing rounds on Whatsapp a few weeks ago. The message this time, was from a high school girl who was telling herself that she was blessed to have her parents because they had acquired an expensive phone for her even better than what they had.
When parents sacrifice for their children, it is simply because they want what is best for them. They want to give their little angels what they themselves did not have when they were kids. Sometimes they only want to correct past mistakes and pains by putting smiles on their children.
A parent is the most important piece in the puzzle of a child’s upbringing. It is not just biological parents but also people perceived to be guardians and caregivers.
The challenge, however, when it comes to technology gifts we dish out to kids, either on their birthdays, festive seasons, or simply when going to boarding schools, is that kids are usually ahead of most parents when it comes to the use of these gadgets.
Some parents have no idea where a memory card is found in their phones; sometimes they even fail to set up a password on their phones not because they are old school but because they do not understand the power of their mobile phones apart from the sole use of communication.
When parents, guardians or any adult persons allow their children to use smart phones, or access the internet through the use of computers and other communication devices, they should understand that they are connecting their children to the wider network of people using the same platforms.
Because of such exposure, parents need to share one or two things with their children on the proper use of these gadgets. Even though some parents as earlier alluded to lack digital literacy, the mere fact that these gadgets connect their children to other people including strangers is enough to give them reason to share notes with kids.
Last week, the column discussed guidelines for stakeholders on child online protection; some of the guidelines are on the role parents should play in safeguarding children from the hazards that have come with technology.
It is not just a question of being providers and bread winners; it goes beyond that, because a child cannot be ready to learn outside their home if they are un-teachable inside the home. No wonder the old and bruised adage of charity begins at home.
Not everything in life is considered to be entirely safe and risk free all of the time. Even in cities where the movement of traffic is highly regulated and closely controlled, accidents still happen.
Being online is also not without risks, especially for children who may stumble upon questionable content while using the internet.
Sometimes this is done deliberating by children while many times they are just lured to click on links that seem innocent but lead to other inappropriate content.
That is why parents need to have access to these gadgets and be at liberty to go through text messages, web history, contacts and mail boxes. It sounds like a hash thing to do but it can work well if this is discussed before a child is allowed to use a smart phone.
For those with access to computers and other technological devices, it is important to monitor them closely with no malice lest one is perceived to be over patronising. This in the end might cause more harm than good to children.For comments :moseskabailagmail.com or 0954287102