Parenting Roundtable: How do parents navigate the opportunity and risk of children’s access to technology?
SONNY ALDRIDGE
CEO, United Community Bank
As adults, we spend too much time on technology, so it’s hard to think a child wouldn’t have the same temptation. Honestly, the only thing you can do is communicate. I have two teenagers, 18 and 16. Misinformation is something we talk about a lot. Cyberbullying is another issue. We know children who have been hit hard with that. It would be easy to say, “limit their access,” but technology is so ingrained in everything they do. There’s really no way to take it away. Communication on the dangers of what can happen and how to conduct and protect yourself online is the key.
WADE EVANS
Mayor, City of Central
We live in one of the greatest times ever, where we can have a phone in our pocket more powerful than computers 10 years ago. The key is knowing how to manage it and use it, not avoid it. As parents, we must teach discernment—how to discern whether something is right or real. AI is no different than the calculator was in the ’70s. Our job is to manage it in a way that’s beneficial and educational. The key is determining whether it’s accurate. Check multiple sources. Take what you read and fact-check it elsewhere.
EMILY GREENE
President, First Choice Therapy
Technology offers a lot of beneficial things. In schools we see smart boards, speech to text, word prediction software—things that foster greater independence. But we’re also seeing negative effects of excessive screen time. We’re seeing students come in with lower attention spans and difficulty with retention in the classroom, not to mention difficulty with delayed gratification. How do parents navigate that? First, be a role model. If you’re sitting on your phone and not interacting, you’re teaching that behavior. Limit your own technology. We need a balanced approach between digital use and real-world experiences. Engage with children in active play and get back to face-to-face communication.
SHAUN KEMMERLY, MD
Chief Medical Officer and Interim President, FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health
It’s here to stay. We have to learn how to manage it and empower parents. Kids ages 3 to 5 have 3½ hours of screen time a day; 6-to-10-year-olds, 6 hours; 11-to-14-year-olds, 9 hours; 15-to-18-year-olds, 7 hours—not including homework. That’s a massive amount of influence. Set boundaries. Don’t put it in the bedroom. Increased screen time affects socio-emotional challenges—anxiety, depression, executive function. We need to balance screens with outside play and family activities. It’s a problem. We need to empower parents to manage this.
MARY STEIN
Assistant Library Director: Programs, Outreach & Collections, East Baton Rouge Parish Library
Modeling the behavior is key—turn it off! Don’t just give a child a book—read with them. That reconnects what you lose when technology babysits your child. Digital literacy is key, but schools can only do so much. We’re all struggling with, “How do I tell what’s real?” The first thing is, don’t let the phone go into the bedroom. Use it at the kitchen table where we’re all part of it. Ask what they’re doing. Be cautious. Be intentional. The more technology we have, the more we need people. Keep gathering spaces alive—family activities, human interaction.
