"Who is teaching your child when you're not in the room?"
It's a question many parents don't stop to ask—but perhaps they should.
Today's children are growing up in a world unlike any previous generation. With just a few taps, they can access millions of videos, opinions, games, influencers, songs, and conversations. The internet has become their teacher, entertainer, counsellor, and sometimes even their role model.
Technology has brought incredible opportunities. Children can learn new languages, explore science, develop artistic skills, and connect with educational resources from around the world. The internet itself is not the enemy.
The real concern is this:
When parents stop intentionally teaching their children, the internet gladly takes over.
Children are always learning. If we are not shaping their values, someone else is.
Every Child Is Learning From Someone
Children are naturally curious. From the moment they begin to understand the world around them, they absorb information like little sponges.
Years ago, children's biggest influences were:
Parents
Grandparents
Teachers
Church
Books
Friends
Today, many children spend more time with screens than with meaningful conversations.
Some know the names of dozens of YouTubers but struggle to name the qualities of a good friend.
Some can repeat trending phrases perfectly but have never been taught how to deal with disappointment, rejection, or failure.
Information has become easier to access than wisdom.
The Internet Never Sleeps
One of the biggest differences between today's childhood and previous generations is that influence never switches off.
Children can wake up and immediately watch videos.
On the journey to school, they scroll through social media.
After school, they watch gaming streams.
Before bed, they watch one more video.
Without realising it, children are spending hours every day listening to people their parents have never met.
Some creators inspire kindness and creativity.
Others promote comparison, materialism, disrespect, unrealistic beauty standards, or unhealthy behaviour.
The internet teaches continuously—whether those lessons are good or bad.
Children Copy What They See
One truth about childhood has never changed:
Children imitate before they understand.
They copy language.
They copy attitudes.
They copy habits.
They copy reactions.
When a child repeatedly watches content where people insult one another, they may begin to think that's normal.
When they constantly see influencers measuring success by money, popularity, or appearance, they may begin believing those things define their own worth.
Children rarely pause to ask,
"Is this a good example?"
They simply absorb.
That's why intentional parenting matters so much.
The Rise of Digital Role Models
Many children now spend hours watching people online every week.
Some of these creators are talented, entertaining, and inspiring.
Others may unintentionally model behaviours that don't reflect the values parents hope to teach.
Children often begin to admire:
how people speak
how they dress
how they solve problems
how they treat others
what they celebrate
This doesn't mean children shouldn't enjoy online creators.
It means parents should remain their children's primary influence.
When children admire someone online, it's a wonderful opportunity to ask questions like:
What do you like about this person?
Do they treat others kindly?
What can we learn from them?
Is everything they do worth copying?
These conversations help children become thoughtful rather than passive consumers.
The Hidden Cost of Constant Entertainment
Many digital platforms are designed to keep people watching.
Bright colours.
Fast editing.
Constant excitement.
While entertaining, endless stimulation can make slower but important activities feel less exciting.
Reading a book.
Having a family conversation.
Praying together.
Drawing.
Playing outside.
These moments help build patience, creativity, emotional regulation, and relationships.
Children need moments of quiet just as much as moments of excitement.
Character Is Still More Important Than Popularity
The internet often celebrates people for being famous.
But fame and character are not the same thing.
As parents, we want our children to grow into adults who are:
honest
kind
resilient
respectful
responsible
compassionate
These qualities don't trend online every day.
They are built slowly through conversations, examples, correction, encouragement, and love.
Children need adults who consistently remind them that being a good person matters more than being a popular person.
Parents Are Still the Most Powerful Influence
It's easy to feel discouraged.
Some parents wonder,
"How can I compete with the internet?"
The answer is simple.
You don't compete.
You connect.
A loving parent who spends intentional time with a child has enormous influence.
Children remember:
bedtime stories
family meals
encouraging words
hugs after difficult days
prayers together
laughter
feeling safe
No algorithm can replace genuine love.
No screen can replace a trusted relationship.
The goal isn't to remove technology completely.
The goal is to ensure that technology never replaces connection.
Five Practical Ways to Take Back Your Influence
1. Have Daily Conversations
Ask about more than homework.
Ask:
What made you smile today?
Did anything upset you?
What did you learn today?
Who showed kindness?
These simple questions build trust.
2. Watch Together Sometimes
Instead of leaving children alone online all the time, occasionally watch with them.
Discuss what they're watching.
Celebrate positive messages.
Challenge unhealthy ones.
This teaches critical thinking.
3. Model the Behaviour You Want to See
Children notice more than we realise.
If they see adults constantly distracted by phones, they'll likely copy that habit.
If they see kindness, patience, gratitude, and honesty, they'll learn those too.
Remember:
Children learn as much from watching us as they do from listening to us.
4. Fill Their World With Positive Content
Children need more than restrictions.
They need alternatives.
Choose books that inspire.
Play music that encourages.
Watch stories that teach courage, kindness, gratitude, faith, and resilience.
Positive content helps shape positive thinking.
5. Teach Them to Think, Not Just Follow
One of the greatest gifts parents can give is discernment.
Teach children to ask:
Is this true?
Is this kind?
Is this helpful?
Does this reflect the person I want to become?
These questions prepare children for a lifetime of wise decisions.
Raising Children With Purpose
The world will always have voices competing for our children's attention.
Some will encourage them.
Others will confuse them.
Parents cannot control every message children encounter.
But they can provide something even more valuable:
A strong foundation.
When children know who they are, what they believe, and what values guide their lives, they become less likely to be carried away by every trend or opinion they encounter online.
Confidence grows from identity.
Wisdom grows from guidance.
Character grows from consistent practice.
Final Thoughts
The internet is a remarkable tool, but it should never become the primary parent.
Children need more than information.
They need wisdom.
They need guidance.
They need conversations.
They need boundaries.
Most importantly, they need adults who are present enough to help them navigate a complex digital world with confidence and discernment.
Technology will continue to evolve.
New platforms will appear.
New trends will come and go.
But the timeless needs of every child remain the same:
To be loved.
To be seen.
To be guided.
To be encouraged.
And to know that the people who love them most are still walking beside them.
At Sue's Imaginarium, we believe that when children are surrounded by positive stories, strong values, faith, creativity, and meaningful conversations, they don't just grow smarter—they grow stronger from the inside out.
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