When a device becomes an expert
Ever imagine that a device worn around your wrist might provide parenting guidance? Not at all? Until my wristwatch began teaching me more about parenting than any book or conference could ever hope to, neither did I. Here’s the dirt on what my tech friend has been chatting to me about in between alerts and heart rate updates.
Let us discuss the parents of two clubs: the “Tiger” and the “Champion” clubs. “Tiger” parents give out challenges and criticism more quickly than you can say “timeout.” They embrace incentives and don’t back down from punishments. Your cheerleaders are the “Champion” parents, who make every victory seem like a ticker-tape parade. Failures are only rungs on the ladder of learning for them. Their children feel invincible and soar on a cloud of self-assurance and high self-worth.
I’ve always been curious about the best parenting approaches. And you know what gave me the light to see? The unassuming smartwatch. Imagine this: My watch buzzes when I’m midway through a TV episode on my “retirement couch.” It feels like a buddy giving you a light prod to go for a brief walk. It’s supportive rather than condemning. And my watch encourages me to move and reach my daily objectives.
If this little gadget can motivate someone to walk a few additional steps, just think of the great impact that regular, constructive reinforcement may have on a youngster. In a word, it is the “Champion” approach. The secret is to set your objectives just so—not so high that they’re unachievable, nor too low that they don’t spur development. When you strike the right equilibrium, you’ll see magic occur.
Instead of basing my objectives on what it believes I am capable of, my wristwatch takes my past performance into account and works with me to create the next goal that is just a short distance away. And it’s a parenting lesson that we can all use. Observe, pick up knowledge, and then motivate with attainable objectives that call for a little bit more work. When your poppet overachieves, it’s even more wonderful when you first set the bar a little lower. You may always ratchet it up later, gradually increasing their competence and self-assurance.
The smartwatch is always kind. It only serves as a gentle reminder of how near I am to my objective and motivation to get it, without criticizing me for standing still. It is entirely focused on the good. It’s important to recognize what went well and use setbacks as teaching moments rather than dwelling on what went wrong. The point is, as parents, maybe we need to try to emulate the wristwatch a little bit. Be the “champion” your child sorely needs. When they make mistakes, remind them of how close they are to achieving their objectives and acknowledge their efforts and development.
Ultimately, being a parent isn’t about controlling every decision your kids make. It’s about giving them a path forward, encouraging them, and acknowledging all of their accomplishments, no matter how little. And if they stray, gently nudge them back, just like the smartwatch does with each step you take, each objective you accomplish, and each little piece of advancement you make.
