Raising Children in Today's World
Parents were once little students too, we gained education in ways that were mostly delegated to teachers at school or in tutoring centers. We are “forced” to follow rigid systems—lacking deep analysis since most of them praised students who merely memorised formulas, history, and other rote learning, knowledge that often fades away years later. Moreover, people’s critical thinking has been weakened by fake viral posts and content seeking validation in society, and this may very well affect our children too.
There is growing concern that our children’s future may be compromised as artificial intelligence continues to replace human labor, yet governments still lack stable, long-term solutions. The system in this country still hasn’t changed significantly, offering a little room for exploration or curiosity. Although private schools and other tutoring centers offer better approaches like STEAM and IB curricula, they remain inaccessible to the majority. Sadly but truthfully, those benefits come with privileges:
The privilege of recognizing dissatisfaction with knowledge
The privilege of having an environment that encourages questions beyond textbooks
And of course, the privilege of affording access to enriched educational opportunities.
Nonetheless, should we continue relying on the same outdated systems, knowing that we once struggled with their rigidity, and that our children may face the same? The good news is that we can harness the benefits of today’s technologies, perhaps by leveraging AI and impactful platforms, to create opportunities for our children at an affordable cost. So, how do we begin? Here are my suggestions based on personal experience (and I’d love for you to share other effective approaches as well):
Limit scrolling, practice mindful consumption.
Scrolling, even doom-scrolling, can lead to unchallenging activities, especially when we consume short-form videos. Researchers suggest that this activity makes us feel more bored, anxious, and even depressed! If self-aware consumption on mobile phone or short-form content is your issue as parents, I suggest setting an app or timer to limit screen time or putting your phone far from you while you're doing other things like reading a book or watching a podcast. This way is very effective!
Engage with Longer-form, Creative, and Thought-provoking Content.
It will lead to the algorithms on your social media automatically turning into more positive content and encouraging your curiosity with substantial information or knowledge. Try searching and immerse yourself in inspirational content:
Mel Robbin’s YouTube (I’d highly recommend her!)
Or just follow an educational influencer.
Select Curricula that Fit Your Family’s Vision.
For example, I want my child to develop critical thinking skills while having faith in God as the foundation of their beliefs. Therefore, I use the Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding books to foster my son’s questioning and analysis skills, and I usually end our discussions with reflective questions such as, “What if God created air in liquid form? Would it make human life difficult on this earth?” From there, I connect it to the idea that God created the Earth in a way that makes it easier for humans to live, and that God made this Earth beyond perfect.
Create a Planner and Tracker for Kids’ Learning
This method is simply about ensuring consistency after choosing and selecting the best learning approach for our children. A planner and tracker can serve as our “Clues and Reward” system by using a notebook, sticky notes, or a spreadsheet to monitor a child's progress. I save time by personalizing schedules with AI to match individual needs and learning speeds. Tracking children's progress (and mine too, as an evolving mother—yay, finally!) helps develop routines that sustain these efforts, turning them into habits.
Stop YouTube Kids and Limit Independent Use of Screen Time
Some will say it’s harsh not to allow children to access selected videos, even just 1 hour per day. However, children are incredibly clever at finding loopholes! When we allow them to watch selected content, they may sneakily find a way to access content we’ve restricted. Like it or not, we have a responsibility to provide them with our time (and sometimes money) to create healthier alternatives. As a reward, consider games that boost children’s cognitive skills, flip through Usborne books, or, if you’re busy, you can download STEAM videos, Sea Creatures, or other stimulating content and turn off the internet while they watch.
By being firm with ourselves and consistently providing them with enriching activities, children slowly become familiar with them, and eventually it becomes a habit. Over time, we will raise a generation that thinks critically and is equipped for a fast-developing world.
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