Excessively Monitoring Children Digitally Can Be Risky, Check About Tamagotchi Parenting According To Experts

According to experts, the illustration of talagotchi parenting and excessive risk of monitoring children digitally (Freepik/tonodiaz)

YOGYAKARTA - In the digital era, many parents feel calmer if they can see the child's position only by one click. A tracking application such as Find My or Life360 becomes a kind of behavior' so that the child is always within reach of sight. But behind that sense of security, it is hidden a new habit that experts call Tamagotchi parenting. Parenting with this pattern, defined as an urge to continue to 'check' children digitally like caring for virtual pets. This phenomenon may seem trivial, but it could have a major impact on the balance of relationship between parents and children.

The urge to always monitor is usually born from natural affection and anxiety. Technology gives parents instant control as if it can protect their children at any time and anywhere. However, a family psychologist, Lindsay Godwin, Ph.D. reported by Psychology Today, Monday, October 13, assesses that this is often more related to the emotional needs of their own parents, not the needs of their children.

Supervision is a kind of substitute for warm conversations or emotional presence that children really need more. In addition, many parents feel closer when they can see their children through digital notifications. In fact, healthy connections are not created from data or locations, but from trust and two-way communication that is empathetic.

Although the intentions are good, monitoring your child too often can pose several psychological risks. First, excessive anxiety arises, especially when the application does not display accurate data or the child has not responded to messages. Second, children can feel lost in privacy and freedom, so they grow suspicious of parental supervision. Third, this habit can make communication formal and full of boundaries, because children are more often seen than "heard".

Experts also remind that the Tamagotchi parenting pattern can hinder the development of children's independence. When every step is monitored, it is difficult for children to learn to make decisions and face risks independently. Therefore, it is important for parents to start the following recommendations:

A healthy relationship is stronger than just a location on the screen. Make daily chats a way to get to know your children's daily lives. Ask simple things like, 'How are you doing?' or 'What makes you happy today?'. Light conversations are much more effective in building trust than location notifications that are always active.

As children grow up, the role of parents shifts. You as parents are no longer the controller of every step, but a safe place to share stories and seek advice. By understanding this change, parents can provide space for their children to grow up without feeling completely out of control.

Trust is the foundation of a mature relationship. Start by giving small freedoms, for example, not always checking the location or letting the child manage the schedule on their own. When the child is able to show responsibility, let go of the control that has been held tightly for a while.

It is important for parents to understand that technology should help, not replace intimacy in family relationships. Parents can still use digital tools as support, not as a form of control. The key is to maintain a balance between security and trust so that the relationship remains warm and healthy.

Godwin reminded that being a parent in the digital era does not mean you have to know everything at all times. Sometimes, the best step is to believe that children are able to navigate their own lives, while you remain present as a safe place to go. Instead of continuing to check the screen, parents can choose to build connections through conversations, attention, and trust.