Hayman Suzie - Parents and digital technology : how to raise the connected generation

Children today are digital natives, growing up in an age where social media and online communication is the norm. This book is an indispensable guide for parents who may feel they are struggling to keep up, addressing the issues that young people and their families face in the world of modern technology. Suzie Hayman, a parenting counsellor, and John Coleman, a distinguished psychologist, use their combined expertise to explore the challenges and possibilities of being constantly connected, helping parents to make choices about how they communicate, set boundaries and establish rules.

Using real-world examples and solid psychological theory, the book looks first at the anxieties parents express about digital technology, followed by the serious potential threats such as cyber-bullying, sexting and easy access to pornographic or violent materials. However, the internet is also full of enormous potential and a further chapter explores the positive side of the digital playground. The authors also share their expert understanding of child and adolescent development and how this relates to the appeal of digital media, with special attention paid to the importance of good communication. The end result is a toolbox for parents, full of tips, strategies and techniques designed to help navigate the digital world, ensuring it is safe yet still exciting for young people.

Parents and Digital Technology is essential reading for all parents and guardians, as well as those caring for children and teenagers in a professional setting, who want to get the best out of life and modern technology while keeping safe in a family that talks to each other, spends time with each other and enjoys each other.

Suzie Hayman is a Relate-trained counsellor, an accredited parenting educator, an agony aunt and the author of 30 books on parenting.

John Coleman is a psychologist whose primary interest is adolescence. His pioneering work with parents and families has been widely recognised, and in 2001 he was awarded an OBE for his services to young people.

Praise for Parents and Digital Technology

The digital age has added a whole new layer of anxiety to parenting. We worry about everything from letting toddlers play games on our phones for too long to raising teenagers who never lift their eyes from their screens, totally absorbed in social media, violent video games and online pornography. But helpless panic is the worst possible coping mechanism. Suzie Hayman and John Coleman give us a calming and realistic appraisal of the risks and benefits of the digital world, and explain how we can raise healthily balanced children who know how to make the best use of whats on offer while avoiding the pitfalls.

Deidre Sanders, Agony Aunt for The Sun

This is a very novel and important book which explores parents worries and opportunities when it comes to their children and the digital age. It also explores child and adolescent development related to technology. This is a must-read for parents as they try and cope with parenting and how technology fits into the family and child development.

Prof. Sir Cary Cooper, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester and President of RELATE

I am delighted to be able to endorse and recommend Parents and Digital Technology . The authors offer pragmatic advice from a sound base of child psychology. This book will make a real contribution both to allaying fears and improving control of abuse.

Sir Richard Tilt, Chair of Trustees, The Internet Watch Foundation

The authors bring a vast amount of knowledge and experience to this topic. The book will help parents, grandparents and children understand how to manage the digital world.

Benita Refson, OBE, President of Place2Be

This book is an excellent resource. It is a comprehensive guide, packed with factual information and advice. In this era of digital technology I believe it is an essential read for parents and practitioners.

Pip Jaffa, OBE, Chief Executive, Parenting Northern Ireland

More praise from parents

Yes there are some worrying issues online, but this book deals with what they are in a realistic and pragmatic way. I feel equipped to deal with them as they may arise. Some fantastic general parenting tips too; I feel inspired to read Raise a Happy Teenager now!

Charlotte Crosby, mother of 8- and 10-year-old boys

Every parent should read this book as it addresses the issues that every parent needs to be aware of.

Tor Kelly, parent and teacher (head of year)

How to raise the connected generation

Suzie Hayman and John Coleman