Festival for Parents and Kids: Summer Vacation - A Significant Moment for Family Reunions and Digital Equilibrium
In the digital age, striking a balance between digital opportunities and risks for children's development is a paramount concern for parents and experts alike. This year, Romania's largest parenting event, ParentED Fest, is set to address this issue, with renowned child development and balanced parenting expert, Maggie Dent, as a keynote speaker.
Taking place on October 4-5, 2025, in Bucharest, ParentED Fest will bring together a host of supporters, including Matca Social Club, Destiny Park, International British School of Bucharest, CyberJump, Genesis College, KinetoBebe, American International School of Bucharest, Liceul Teoretic Luca, Museum of Senses, Muzeul Fotbalului, Basme cu Cai, Ograda Bunicilor, Acvatic Bebe Club, Edenland Park, Bob Coffee Lab, Dino Park, Tzitzi - Poc, Mamaz, Curtea Veche Publishing, Editura Trei, Editura Univers, Editura Herald, Editura For You, Kiddo Play Academy, and Adeomed.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), young children aged 3–5 years should limit screen time to 1 hour or less per day to reduce adverse health impacts associated with prolonged digital use. As children grow older, digital tools can promote health literacy and meaningful learning experiences, but content quality, type of use, and context matter significantly for their wellbeing.
Maggie Dent, a leading voice in child development and balanced parenting, emphasizes the importance of verbal communication with children, stating that digital distractions can steal valuable moments of verbal interaction. She warns of the potential damage technology can inflict on childhood, advocating for mindful, limited, and context-aware digital use.
Statistics show that 69% of children aged 10 to 22 spend over 3 hours a day on social media or online gaming, even during school days. In Romania, 50% of parents say they gave their children their first phone between the ages of 5 and 8, while over one-third did so between the ages of 9 and 12.
To balance digital opportunities and risks, Dent suggests setting clear family boundaries on device use, prioritizing quality content and purposeful digital use, and using family time as opportunities to reconnect and establish digital balance. She also emphasizes the importance of educating children about digital risks and empowering them to navigate safely.
The OECD points out the complexity of digital risks, including harmful content, contact risks, and conduct risks, which require multifaceted strategies rather than single actions, reinforcing careful supervision and digital literacy education.
ParentED Fest 2025 will provide a platform for parents to learn more about these issues and gain practical insights from experts like Maggie Dent. The event will also be supported by Lidl Romania, Sanador, Kids Hero Foundation, ThedaMar, Catena, Raiffeisen Bank, Activ, English Kids Academy, Maison Dadoo, and Aquatique.
Tickets for ParentED Fest 2025 are available through the IaBilet.ro network and www.parentedfest.ro website. The World Health Organization recommends that infants under 1 should not be exposed to screens at all, while those aged 2 to 4 should spend no more than one hour per day in front of a screen.
In summary, to balance digital opportunities and risks, it is crucial to limit screen time, prioritize quality content and purposeful digital use, set clear family boundaries, use family routines and breaks as opportunities to reduce digital distractions and strengthen connections, educate children about digital risks, and support adolescents’ autonomy while maintaining safeguards aligned with WHO adolescent health frameworks. By adopting this multi-pronged approach, parents can nurture children’s development in an increasingly digital world.
- At ParentED Fest 2025, mental health, family-health, and technology will be discussed, with Maggie Dent emphasizing the importance of verbal communication and mindful digital use to protect children's wellbeing.
- As a part of the event, supporters like Matca Social Club and Lidl Romania will address the challenges of balancing digital opportunities and risks for children's development, a concern that spans both family-health and health-and-wellness.
- In line with World Health Organization recommendations, ParentED Fest will highlight the significance of limiting screen time for young children and providing opportunities to promote digital literacy and meaningful learning experiences as children grow older.
