By: Cynthia Soita
Has the internet made parenting more challenging?
That’s a question many Kenyan parents are quietly asking as they navigate a world where children grow up with tablets instead of toys and online friends instead of neighbors. A report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics(KNBS) revealed that over 70% of children between 8 and 17 years spend more than three hours daily on screens—be it for school, gaming, or social media.
Screens have become the new playgrounds, where creativity and curiosity bloom. Yet they have also become battlegrounds for attention, discipline, and family time. Many Kenyan homes now echo with a familiar rhythm: parents juggling work calls and WhatsApp groups while children chase TikTok trends, leaving half-done homework and forgotten chores behind.
Technology has woven itself into the fabric of our homes—into mealtimes, bedtime stories, and even prayer moments—quietly changing how we love, guide, and connect.
There was a time when the television was a family ritual—everyone gathered to watch the evening news or a beloved local show. Now, every family member has a personal screen. One streams, another scrolls, while the youngest laughs at animated clips.
This shift hasn’t only changed how families spend time together; it has changed how they relate. Many parents now find themselves competing with devices for their children’s attention. Conversations are shorter, eye contact rarer, and silence heavier. Still, technology also brings knowledge, entertainment, and education within reach—making it both a gift and a challenge.
The goal is no longer to eliminate screens, but to live with them wisely—to turn screen time into something that nurtures rather than disconnects.
Modern Kenyan parents are walking a tightrope between discipline and understanding. On one side lies the urge to limit screens; on the other, the reality that technology drives much of learning and communication today.
You can take a gadget away, but not a child’s curiosity. You can block an app, but not the need to belong. Many parents are realizing that children now live in two parallel worlds—the physical one they can supervise, and the digital one they can only hope to understand.
This shift has transformed authority. Parenting today demands more than presence; it requires digital awareness and emotional intelligence. The phrase “I’m watching you” no longer means standing at the door to check on homework—it means understanding what your child watches, who they follow, and why it matters to them.
Being a parent in this age isn’t about control; it’s about guidance that builds trust in both worlds.
Traditional parenting focused on curfews and chores. Now, it’s about managing screen limits and digital footprints. The familiar household rules have evolved:
“Don’t talk to strangers” now means avoiding unknown online profiles.
“Finish your homework” involves ensuring assignments aren’t AI-generated.
“Respect your elders” includes how you interact online.
While this evolution offers global exposure and modern skills, it also comes with challenges—cyberbullying, online manipulation, and the quiet isolation that can creep in when children spend more time with screens than people.
Parents are learning to adapt quickly. The conversation has shifted from punishment to participation—less about blocking and more about building digital resilience.
Kenyan homes once thrived on togetherness—shared meals, laughter, and stories passed down by grandparents. Today, those moments are often replaced by glowing screens and silence. The digital world has made homes smarter but sometimes lonelier.
Yet even in this shift, love remains. What families need now is not a return to the past, but a renewal of presence. Parents can connect with their children through shared experiences—like watching a short film together or discussing an online trend. Love in this age is about meeting children where they are, online and offline alike.
By engaging, rather than retreating, parents show that guidance is not about policing—it’s about partnership.
Technology isn’t the enemy. Disconnection is. The solution lies in modeling balance, not demanding it. Children observe more than they obey—if they see you scrolling endlessly, they’ll do the same. But if they see you create time for conversations, hobbies, and stillness, they’ll mirror that too.
A few simple practices can restore family connection:
Create tech-free zones during meals or bedtime.
Invite children to help set screen rules.
Replace scolding with dialogue about what excites them online.
Use technology to connect—watch, learn, or create together.
Presence is the new form of discipline, and empathy the new language of authority.
Faith and culture have long been cornerstones of Kenyan families. Now, they are becoming tools for navigating digital life. Many churches, mosques, and schools are incorporating lessons about online responsibility and emotional well-being.
Rather than viewing technology as a threat to morality, families can use it to share values and strengthen identity. The goal is to let culture evolve alongside technology, not in conflict with it. When children learn discernment—knowing what is healthy and what is harmful—they gain both freedom and responsibility.
Modern parenting means combining tradition’s wisdom with technology’s possibilities. It’s about building families that thrive both on the ground and in the cloud.
Parenting in the digital age is no longer about controlling access but cultivating awareness. You don’t need to understand every app or trend to guide your child—you just need to be their constant in a world that changes by the second.
Screens will continue to redefine Kenyan homes, but no amount of technology can replace the comfort of a parent’s listening ear or gentle voice. The future of family is not found in the next app, but in the daily choice to stay connected—heart to heart, even across screens.
Technology may shape the tools of tomorrow, but families will always shape the people who use them.
1. How much screen time is healthy for children?
Experts recommend limiting recreational screen time to about two hours a day. However, the quality of screen time—educational or creative use—matters more than the number alone.
2. How can I help my teenager reduce screen time without conflict?
Start by involving them in decisions. Discuss their favorite apps, agree on limits, and replace screen time with engaging alternatives like walks, family games, or volunteering.
3. Is technology bad for family relationships?
Not necessarily. It depends on how it’s used. When technology supports communication, learning, or shared experiences, it strengthens family bonds. Problems arise when screens replace, rather than enhance, real connection.
Please login to leave a comment.
Comments: