Technology analyst Jerry Liao was once again the featured speaker at the 4th installment of MGC New Life Christian Academy’s (MGCNLCA) LifeTalks, “Parenting in the Digital Age,” last October 30 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM via Zoom, as he educated the attendees on how to parent their children during the digital age.
Liao began his talk by providing a brief introduction to the different generations that we have now, namely the Builders, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y or Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha. He then discussed the types of applications that the young generation is interested in nowadays, including social media apps, gaming apps, messaging apps, and even apps that allow users to earn money. Liao advised parents to be aware of their children’s online activities and to be present in order to guide them through the process of maintaining a safe digital life.
The tech expert then explained the 3M’s of digital parenting: model, manage, and mentor. He advocated setting a healthy digital lifestyle example for kids, allowing them to be their managers as they grow, and guiding them through each step they take.
“Try to be the best parent that we can be rather than focusing on what we want our children to be,” Liao added.
As he shared the DOs and DON’Ts of approaching kids, Liao gave examples of traits that parents may want to consider, such as being an affirming parent, an attentive parent, a connected parent, and a prayerful parent. To end, Liao encouraged the parents to instill in their children the importance of loving God and to let God be the center of their family and relationship. “Be a good parent and be a GODLY parent,” Liao concluded.
Many MGCNLCA parents expressed their delight at the relevant topic. One of them shared, “I am a Gen X mom to 3 Gen Z boys, and it is a challenge bridging the 2 generations gap. From the Parenting In The Digital Age talk, I learned that I should focus on being the best parent I can be instead. And so I pray that I can be continually molded and transformed into Christ-likeness, as I seek Him, love Him, and obey Him daily. Because only by doing so, will I become the best Gen X mom I can be to my 3 Gen Z boys.”
Jerry Liao is a well-known professional technology analyst who started the country’s first technology TV show entitled “Infochat.” Some prominent individuals interviewed by Liao include Bill Gates of Microsoft, Meg Whitman of HP, Scott McNealy of Sun Microsystem, and Craig Barret of Intel. He is often invited to talk about various tech issues by GMA-7, ABS-CBN, CNN Philippines, TV-5, PTV-4, DZBB, and DZMM Radio. Liao also spearheaded the country’s biggest educational technology seminar titled “Techtutor,” attended by more than 300 universities and over 60,000 students nationwide.
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