This is a question that might send chills down a parent’s spine.
While you can love and trust your child unconditionally, the fear of them being involved in certain activities will always prevail. The generations before millennials are boomers, and it’s no secret that they didn’t struggle with millennials as they do with Generation Z or Zoomers. Gen Z is growing up in a world that is much different than what their parents were used to.
In the Wrong Hands
There are now new social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram and closed metaverses like Second Life and Elder Scrolls Online. You might not even recognize some of these names but this is the reality your children are living.
So, can you confidently say that you are well-aware of your children’s activities? Probably not. One single mother talks about her experience when it comes to her 16-year-old daughter, who was your average teen, focusing on her studies and hanging out with her friends, but on a fateful day, she discovered her daughter on a video call with a man in his late-30s. As a parent, this was her worst nightmare coming to life to see her daughter interacting with a predator.
Bridging the Gap
This instance is only one of many. There are many parents who may have caught or discovered that their child is up to something illegal. So is there something that can be done to bridge the gap between the youngsters and their parents? Are there any steps that parents can take in order to create a foundation of openness and trust amongst each other? Yes, there is and it is high time that parents start to shift their focus to it.
Communication is Key
The most important thing a parent can do for their children is to communicate with them. Most families talk often but there is no communication, some parents tend to ignore certain situations in hopes that the child will grow out of their phase, while others have quite a strict approach that completely strips the child of the freedom to discuss something without being shunned or scolded for it.
Once you start focusing on your children, you’ll notice certain behavior that might even require professional help that you should willingly provide.
Your children are going to grow up and step into the world. As a parent, you should act as the safe space they always come back to and share their feelings with.