The Changing Face Of Parenting
Apr 01, 2021
The tumultuous past year has no doubt come with a unique set of challenges for parents around the world. Children have been homeschooled, parents have worked from home and Masjids- a focal point for Muslim communities, have been largely closed.
In addition to this, changes in our society as a whole, including technological advances have transformed our approach to parenting.
Here are some ways parenting has changed:
1. Social media. Whilst social media can be great in spreading useful information in a quick and convenient manner, it can also be used for the wrong reasons. Children have an inherent need to be socially acknowledged. With the ever increasing wave of ‘social influencers’, children are constantly taking selfies/pictures in a bid to gain likes and followers. This leads to a myriad of issues including stranger danger, online grooming and cyber bullying. Although schools are actively working to combat these issues, parents now more than ever need to be extra vigilant with regards to setting boundaries for their children.
2. Information overload. Whilst we live in the digital age, information is literally available at the click of a button. There was a time when information or practices might have been passed down from generation to generation, but seeking it out new and up-to-date is now the norm. From sleep training, toilet training, weaning, schooling to tuitions, there is an array of advice for everything. This abundance of information can be both overwhelming and confusing for well meaning parents. It’s best to take things one step at a time, once you have made a decision, do what’s right for YOU and YOUR FAMILY! The same approach will not work for everyone.
3. Independence. For most of the 20th century, it was usual for young children to walk home by themselves. Now there is a common fear shared by parents that children are not safe to make trips alone. This has resulted in parents often driving and chaperoening their children from one place to the next. A degree of independence can allow children to learn important life skills such as navigating their way to the local shops, managing money in a shop, learning to use public transport and visiting local friends/relatives.
4. Working mothers. Working mothers have been negatively impacted during the pandemic. This is something that has been documented widely. Women have been working from home, whilst simultaneously balancing childcare and homeschooling. Parents have not been able to use extended family for support. This has led to mental and physical exhaustion for many women; no doubt also impacting their relationship with their children and partners. Newcastle Central Mosque reports a significant statistical increase in marital disputes recorded after the first lockdown. This was not exclusive to this masjid, but sadly a pattern seen in other organisations across the UK and worldwide.
5. Closed Masajids. The national closure of Masjids, schools etc has meant community hubs where people visit regularly to learn, socialise or gain advice have been off limits. This has been hard for many people to deal with. However, this also opened up opportunities for services to be offered online and many people have benefited from virtual classes as a means of keeping in touch. As the lockdown ends, once again we should try and reconnect with places that have meant a lot to our families for both our spiritual and social wellbeing.
