Blog by Nayari Rossi Romero
Last week I spoke about improving the way we use YouTube, and today I want to tell everyone about some learning opportunities associated with this new way of watching audiovisuals. First of all, children today don’t live the same life we did as kids. In fact, it is a bit crazy to think that they will live similar to the way we did. Today, children feel that access to free communication is natural, which means that unlike us, they don’t wait for a television channel to tell them what to watch. Instead, they decide what they will see and when they will see it, and this makes a major difference.
We have to learn together
Here I will share some of our favorite practices with you. Make sure not to miss out on this guide on improving the way you use YouTube with the kids!
As parents, we have got to share
Being with your children doesn’t mean supervising or imposing on them: Sharing one hour to sit down and watch YouTube videos together is a special activity. It helps us get to know each other, to relate and to share. But it’s not only about setting aside time to share because, let’s be honest here, it’s not always possible. Often, this time represents an opportunity for Mom and Dad to participate in other activities such as finishing household tasks or resolving other issues. When this is the case, and there is no time to watch videos on YouTube with the family, it is ideal that access to this platform remains an open space – a space where the whole family is involved so that you can always be aware of what your little ones are watching, even when you are not by their side. Please don’t leave them alone in a room; rather, opt to share the same physical space even if you’re participating in different activities.
Paying attention to their likes and interests is essential. Being with our children while they watch videos on YouTube allows us to get to know more about what they like. My two-year-old, for example, is very musical, and sometimes he only asks me to put on his favorite videos so that he can have background music while he plays, or so that he can play his favorite instruments (his own inventions) while a song plays at the same time. My ten-year-old daughter, on the other hand, introduces me to a new YouTuber every day. She likes the ones who talk about her favorite themes and topics, and at the moment, she is all about video games.
Make sure to share your interests and likes with your children – and make sure that they share theirs with you. A very fun idea is to make a game that is like a challenge (we don’t have a name for the game, but feel free to leave a comment if you come up with something) in which participants take turns playing the videos that they want to watch. That way, Mom and Dad can share their interests with the kids, and the little ones can do the same. It’s very fun when you tell your children, “Look at this series! It was amazing when I was your age.” Sometimes they like it just as much as you did, and sometimes they make you realize just how much the years have passed. But more than anything, sharing these videos together is a golden opportunity to initiate a very important conversation about age-appropriate content. Without imposing our thoughts and opinions, this conversation helps us create a harmonious environment in which every family member is respected, heard, and validated.
Discuss criteria and norms as well. Though I believe that as parents, we shouldn’t impose norms or criteria on our children, I do think that we have the responsibility to promote a culture of respect at home. (This is a topic we can cover later.) Why do I mention it now? Because I believe that children should remember the norms of computer, telephone, and tablet use at home. These norms should be clear for everyone. (Just because we are adults doesn’t mean we have more rights.) Obviously, there are some exceptions: If Mom and Dad have to work, then they will probably spend more time using technology than the kids, but what is not okay is for the parents to use their electronics at the table when the children are not allowed to do so. This is what I am referring to when I say that we should all respect the same norms. The other point I’m making is about establishing criteria for why some content is appropriate while other content is not. Again, don’t impose your rules; rather, speak with your little ones and consider their opinions.
Learn more in this guide on improving the way you use YouTube with your children. Finally, I want to share something that is very important to me: I subscribe to channels that I trust, that I know of, and that are appropriate for kids.
I would like to invite you to subscribe to my channel, Juana la Iguana , a communicative platform for promoting values in children, cultivating Latin traditions, and stimulating Spanish language learning.
Nayari Rossi Romero
Journalist | Digital Communicator | Welfare Advocate | Member of the Venezuelan Society of Positive Psychology | @Pomarrossa
