The needs of every child change over time. Millennial parents can probably notice how parenting in the past differs greatly from parenting today. With the present role of technology and the “New Normal'' introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic, children are forced to stay at home and experience the world online. The absence of a physical school may have even worried you if your child’s learning is being compromised. Fortunately, humans quickly adapt to unfamiliar situations thus allowing parents to define what modern parenting means. Keep reading to find out what parenting trends you can expect in 2022.
1) Screen Time: Quality over Quantity
The world turned upside down when work and school transitioned online in 2020. Children and parents alike inevitably turned to social media to grasp a sense of community amid isolation from outside. Online games substituted outdoor activities your child used to play in the school playground. A week’s worth of cartoon episodes was even watched in a day. YouTube and TikTok probably became your family’s source of entertainment and sanity.
It was sensible to reduce screen time from phones to make time for family bonding before the pandemic. However, when practically all activities have to be done online, maximizing the quality of your child’s screen time takes priority over worrying about how long it is.
As a parent, your focus today is to ensure your child consumes educational and enriching content. It is tenfold better if the content is entertaining as the platforms they use to have fun. Of course, you can allow your child to still watch cartoons or use Facebook to chat with their friends. Just be mindful of the shifts in their moods because social media can be harmful to their mental health.
2) Gifts: Experience over Things
Online shopping apps clamors loudly as everything became accessible at the swipe of your hands. For a while, many derived joy from hauling toys, household items, and clothes online. But those things are not always satisfying, right?
The past two years encouraged families to value what they have rather than acquiring what they want. This is emphasized in creating more experiences with your child. He or she does not need another toy when a playmate can’t even be there physically. By intentionally setting aside time to engage with your family, you instill a non-materialistic mindset to your child that will help him or her overcome present anxieties. The experience can even help you unwind.
3) On Gender: Neutral Remarks over Imposing Ones
While a taboo topic in many traditional households, gender-neutral parenting is becoming a trend in modern households. Hobbies, pronouns, clothes, and expectations now cut across gender labels of children. Consequently, parents provide their children with a wider array of learning materials and opportunities that would better develop their talents.
Parenting with a gender-neutral lens today must acknowledge that gender discrimination still exists. Thus, it is the parent’s responsibility to guide a child in effectively communicating with those who may not accept them. Learn more about gender-neutral parenting here.
4) Presence: Emotional and Physical
You can be present physically as a parent but may fail to provide the emotional support your child desires. The challenge lies in listening to what your child wants to say and looking at the way he or she acts. With the unfamiliarity of the situation and his or her inexperience in dealing with stress, too many emotions can overwhelm your child. He or she may end up releasing those emotions through tantrums or isolation.
It is convenient to give children quick fixes like sweet treats or vacation trips when they are having a bad day. But meaningful growth comes from a parent who helps their child unpack and understand their emotions. A study also shows that a parent’s response to a child’s emotions influences the latter’s ability to deal with stressful situations as they grow up.
5) Discussions: Pop Culture and Family Trauma
One way for parents to relate to their children is to reference pop culture. You are likely to engage your child in a conversation when you talk about what already piques his or her interests. Keep the conversation rolling by asking more personal questions such as what he or she likes most about that cartoon character or celebrity. You might need to do quick research first to ensure you ask the right questions. But if your child loves to talk, then let him or her tell you all about it!
Some days call for casual conversations but there are days to discuss, if applicable, family trauma. The emergence of mental health concepts in this modern-day proves the importance of confronting toxic behavior in the family. Especially for older children and teens, having unfiltered discussions brings out your humanity as a parent.
6) Lifestyle: Sustainable and Mindful
Another problem that the world is seriously battling with today is climate change. The sooner everyone realizes its gravity, the better chances there are in ending it. Think of a future when no one has to worry about super typhoons and massive flooding. Your dream house location becomes a lot safer.
Alongside the rise of sustainable products sold online, sustainable lifestyles are also becoming a hit and a necessity. Sustainable clothing is rising against fast fashion as even organic baby clothing makes its way to search engines.
Parents who work from home started indoor gardens to grow vegetables. Families started eating home-cooked meals together. More importantly, meditation apps experience a surge of users until now because parents increasingly explore mindfulness.
What 2022 Can Promise
You can finally put your 2021 parenting worries to rest. The world is slowly gaining a sense of order once again and these parenting realizations are not merely for the clout. Looking forward, the year 2022 can become kinder and more empathetic to parents and children alike. Hopefully, these promising parenting trends can set a stronger foundation for your family and teach you what truly matters in your relationships regardless of a pandemic.