Think again if you believed you could avoid talking about social media with your child. If your kid is about to turn 13, the youngster is technically allowed to have a social media account, like Instagram, for example. Here is what you need to know about teaching your youngster good habits when using Facebook, Instagram, and more.

Creating Social Media Accounts Too Early

Vivek Murthy, the US surgeon general, told CNN that children at the age of 13 are still forming their identities. According to him, the culture on social media often produces a very distorted view of relationships and values. Because it’s so widespread, Murthy thinks that it’s challenging to keep youngsters off social media. He advises, though, to unite and delay letting children open accounts until later in their teenage years.

If they want, children will still find a way to create social media accounts, even before the age of 13. It’s a little shocking how many young people create accounts on well-known social media platforms using fake birthdays and a parent’s email address. With all that being said, here are a few tips you get started when it comes to teaching your child good habits.

Start Discussing Social Media

Parents should start the conversation about social media early. This is what M.A., P.P.S., and social media expert Ana Homayoun thinks. She collaborated with Instagram to create parental safety guides. Even if they are not using these platforms, children start using the Internet at a young age. The truth is kids don’t learn about Instagram and other apps from their parents. They learn about them from peers, friends, older siblings, and other influencers. That said, it’s critical that parents actively promote conversations with their children about social media.

Set Time Limits

Kids struggle with self-control. It’s common for them to spend countless hours on social media. Whether it’s 15 minutes or an hour, you, as a parent, should decide on the right amount of time per day for them to spend using such apps. Use Instagram’s Activity Dashboard to mute push notifications, set daily time limit reminders, and more.

Implement an Effective Social Media Etiquette

A child’s self-esteem can be damaged by comments online. Use the tools outlined in Instagram’s resource guide and talk to your child about proper media etiquette. The app lets you filter out inappropriate or offensive words from your comments. One more thing you can also do is practice these positive habits yourself and become a role model for your youngster.

There’s nothing quite like having your child help you with a DIY project. If you struggle to take your child off the screen, then you should definitely try and involve them in your new do-it-yourself activity. It doesn’t matter whether you build a new shelf, repaint, or create a feature in your garden. Have fun with it, and remember to read the following five ways to involve your kids in your activities.

Tools Should Be Introduced One at a Time

As you know, children can get easily distracted. If you don’t allow them to take their time with all the tools they will need for the process, you risk compromising their enthusiasm. So, there is no way to stress this enough — always introduce tools one at a time. Your kid will not remember all the equipment you put in front of them if you don’t allow them to slowly learn about them.

Always Work at Their Height

This is especially important if you plan to involve a smaller child in your next DIY project. After all, you wouldn’t be comfortable handling work on a surface that is too high or too low, right? Well, why should you put your kids through it? There are child-size workbenches you can use. Keep in mind that the optimal size for preschoolers is 2 x 4 ft. and should stand 24 in. high. For elementary-age children, increase the height of the workbench by another three inches at least.

Don’t Neglect Safety

No DIY activity will be fun if it ends in an accident, right? For this reason, you should always follow strict safety rules. Tie up your kid’s hair if it’s too long. Wear the right shoes. Always put glasses on when using a saw or similar instrument.

Don’t Do it for Them

While you may be tempted to get the screw from your kid’s hands and finish the job for them, trust us when we say don’t do it. Many DIYers don’t have the patience to watch their child struggle with the simplest tasks. But, remember this: by doing these seemingly simple activities, your child will learn valuable life skills. So, guide them if needed, but let them work undisturbed, and you will not regret it.

Bubble Wrap Time!

Remember how fun it used to be when you were a kid and had bubble wrap in your hands? If you order something that comes with bubble wrap, give your kid the gift of playing with it! If it’s big enough, you can put it on the floor so that the whole family can have some fun!