Parental support is fundamental to sparking children’s interest in positive relationships. By living positive experiences, children and young people learn that it is not just social media and online games that bring pleasure to their lives. It is necessary to immerse them in this very important universe, through a culture that values respect for oneself and for others.

For this, physical presence is necessary, and living real experiences is more than urgent, in addition to keeping them away from electronic devices as much as possible. We are not stating that digital contact should be completely eliminated, but suggesting that rules be set and enforced, as well as establishing the minimum possible time for using these devices, which bring nothing essential to their emotional and cognitive education.

And remember: nothing replaces physical contact, playing together, reading a story, eye contact, face-to-face conversation, attentive listening, hugs, and the comfort of parents! And through these experiences, children will discover that good relationships are guided and nurtured, primarily, through family values. This is how a relationship of respect between parents and children is built, and this is essential for the development of character.

Nothing will replace the time your children are losing when they are on social media or playing on digital devices. The effects are immediate, and if you don’t notice, they will be irreversible in the long term. Don’t believe that they will fall behind if they don’t get involved in this world early; that’s not true. In the near future, and at the right time, after just a few days of practice, they will become skilled in this new world—they have this innate ability to adapt. The big problem is when parents don’t respect their children’s right to develop healthily. They don’t have this discernment, but we adults do. If they are dependent on online games or social media, the fault is yours. They won’t have access if you don’t allow it in your home and family environment.

Being assertive in decision-making, showing prudence, consistency, and above all responsibility for what you offer your children, the type of content, the type of experience, is it appropriate for their age? Is it suitable for their cognitive, emotional, and moral development? Those who think that being a friend to their children is enough are mistaken. Children need and ask for limits from their parents; this is how relationships of mutual respect, admiration, and inspiration are built. There are no trends when we refer to moral and ethical education, and the essence of the human being requires clear rules, responsibilities, and healthy relationships at the right time. Once that time passes, it will be difficult to recover the damage.

I suggested it in March’s newsletter, the reading of the book A Geração Ansiosa (The Anxious Generation) by Jonathan Haidt, published by Companhia das Letras. This book presents research that proves why our children need to distance themselves from electronic devices and the effects this has on their lives. Until then, these were merely “assumptions,” and now we have the proof!

I am confident that we will have the support of all families and will reap magnificent results in the long term, strengthened and resilient to the inevitable challenges of human life.

Our Personal Commitment

I would like to conclude by emphasizing that these programs are designed for our school, and our team of educators undergoes all necessary training for approaches in positive psychology, socio-emotional education, and socio-moral education to be represented in educational and formative practices.

Character education for our students is what ethical training addresses, and this fundamental pillar must be structured and supervised by specialists in moral and developmental psychology. Today, we have seen many ready-made socio-emotional programs applied by professionals who lack the qualifications and certification from the relevant authorities. Our training goes beyond a socio-emotional program; it is moral education, character formation, strengthening, and preparation for life choices with individual purposes.

We invite all parents and family educators to dive into books about Nonviolent Communication, Positive Psychology, and Ethical Training, the fundamental pillars of your children’s educational program, and I will provide many suggested readings for you in our newsletters.

Without further ado, I am available for a coffee and any questions or guidance you may need.

Giraffe hugs!

Ana Cláudia Mesquita Chioccarello Favano