Parenting and Education in the Digital Age: Reflections from a Teacher and Father

                                                                        

I have been a teacher for over twenty-five years. Teaching, for me, has never been just a profession. It has been a way of life. Along the way, I also became a father, and in recent years, a practitioner and yoga teacher. Now, having crossed my early forties, I often pause and reflect on how dramatically the world around us has changed and how deeply these changes are affecting our children.

I have seen generations of students walk into classrooms with different hopes, fears, distractions, and strengths. I have interacted with hundreds of parents; confident ones, anxious ones, overprotective ones, confused ones. And if there is one thing I can say with certainty, it is this: parenting today is far more complex than it was even twenty years ago.

Yet, I also believe strongly and sincerely that things can change with conscious parenting and committed effort from schools.

Growing Up Between Two Worlds

Parents who are today in their 40s and 50s, including myself, belong to a rare generation. We grew up in a world that was slow, physical, and largely offline and then watched it transform completely.

I still remember the excitement of the first television in the neighborhood, the sound of cassette players, waiting for letters, using rotary phones, and later the arrival of mobile phones where even receiving a call felt expensive. Information took time. Patience was unavoidable.

Our children, however, are growing up in an entirely different reality. They are born into a world of instant access-screens, notifications, videos, and artificial intelligence. For them, this is normal. There is no “before” to compare it with.

This gap between how we grew up and how our children are growing up is at the heart of today’s parenting struggles.

 

Stress, Anxiety, and Uncertainty: What I See Every Day

Over the years, I have noticed a steady rise in stress, anxiety, and insecurity—not only in students, but in parents as well.

Children today are more stimulated, more exposed, and yet often more emotionally unsettled. Parents sense this change but are unsure how to respond. Many ask me the same question in different ways:

“Are we doing enough? Are we doing it right?”

The truth is, no one prepared parents for this pace of change.

Childhood in the Age of Screens

One of the most visible shifts I have observed is children’s relationship with screens. Many children are introduced to mobile phones and televisions at a very young age, often as a way to keep them occupied or calm.

Over time, screens become more engaging than real-life interactions. I have personally seen children trying to swipe pages of physical books or zoom into newspapers. Outdoor play no longer excites them the way digital games do.

This is not because children are lazy or parents are careless—it is because the digital world is designed to be addictive.

Early Exposure and Loss of Innocence

In our childhood, exposure to mature content was limited and accidental. Today, it is easily accessible, often without parents realizing it.

What worries me deeply is how technologically skilled children have become, sometimes more than their parents. Many know how to bypass restrictions, hide online activity, and explore content they are not emotionally ready to process.

This early exposure accelerates emotional maturity without emotional stability and that imbalance shows up as anxiety, aggression, confusion, or withdrawal. 

The Silent Digital Threats

As educators and parents, we must also accept an uncomfortable reality: the internet is not always a safe space. There are individuals who misuse technology to emotionally manipulate children. With today’s AI tools, even images can be misused, creating fear and shame.

In such situations, I strongly believe that a child’s greatest protection is a trusting relationship with their parents. Fear and punishment only push children into silence. Understanding and reassurance bring them back to safety.

 

From Discipline to Dialogue

One lesson my years of teaching and parenting have taught me is this: children listen more when they feel understood. We must move away from constant control and towards meaningful conversations. Sometimes, a calm explanation does more than strict rules ever can. Children need guidance not judgment.

Why Yoga and Counselling Are No Longer Optional

My journey into yoga has reinforced something I had already sensed as a teacher: today’s children need tools to manage their minds as much as they need academic knowledge.

Yoga helps children:
• Regulate emotions
• Improve focus
• Reduce anxiety
• Develop self-awareness

Counselling helps them:
• Process stress
• Navigate identity issues
• Feel heard without fear

In today’s generation, yoga and counseling are not luxuries they are necessities.

 

The Responsibility of Schools and Parents Together

No school can do this alone. No parent can either.

When schools and parents work together with openness, trust, and shared responsibility, children thrive. Education must go beyond marks and rankings. Emotional well-being must be given equal importance.

A Hopeful Closing Thought

Despite all the challenges, I remain hopeful. I have seen children change when they are supported rather than pressured. I have seen parents regain clarity when they are guided rather than blamed. I have seen schools become safe spaces when they prioritize the whole child.

As a teacher of twenty-five years and a father navigating this changing world myself, I truly believe this: with awareness, conscious parenting, yoga, counselling, and collaboration, we can still shape a healthier generation.

Change is possible if we are willing to change with the times.

 

References

Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants part 1. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816

West, H. (2019, April 8). Review: The conscious parent, by Shefali Tsabary, PhD. Harper West. https://www.harperwest.co/review-the-conscious-parent-by-shefali-tsabary-phd/

Hwang, W., & Jung, E. (2022). Helicopter parenting versus autonomy supportive parenting? A latent class analysis of parenting among emerging adults and their psychological and relational well-being. Emerging Adulthood, 10(2), 481-493. https://doi.org/10.1177/21676968211000498

Campbell, E. (2014, September 16). Mindfulness in education research highlights. Greater Good. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/mindfulness_in_education_research_highlights