Tackling frustrations with non-tech savvy parents

"Dipa! Come here!"

"I can hear you from here, ammu."

"I told you to come here, so come."

"All right, what happened?"

"Why is the keyboard typing gibberish?"

"Because you kept the Bijoy Classic on. I told you how to change this a million times before."

"I am old, I can't remember all these things now."

"YouTube is a click away, ammu."

"Why would I need YouTube when I have you to teach me?"

If we are sure about one thing, it is that our parents are not early adopters. They are what American sociologist Everett Rogers calls the "late majority" or even "laggards". This simply means that we, the early majority, are expected to bear certain responsibilities in disseminating technology-related knowledge to them. This is noble and salient, but it often entails being frustrated when they do not retain the information well.

Numerous studies have shown that as people grow older, the brain requires more time to learn new facts. This is because the function of the brain responsible for receiving, processing, and relaying information becomes less effective due to ageing and decreased activity. Hence, when teaching your parents new technology, it is important to approach the task with patience and compassion.

Start with the basics and gradually introduce more advanced features. Make sure to explain things in simple terms and use examples they can relate to. Avoid using technical jargon and explain things in a comprehensible manner. Rather than simply telling them how to use the technology, demonstrate how to use it. Have them repeat the instructions and practice. If necessary, go over the steps again. Above all, try not to get frustrated if your parents don't understand everything right away.

Encourage them to ask questions and practice using the technology on their own. Make yourself available to answer any questions they may have or to assist them in troubleshooting any issues that may arise. Additionally, it may be helpful to find online resources or tutorials that they can refer to for additional help. Providing detailed written instruction may also be of great help, as it is sometimes easier to understand something when it's in written form.

Positive reinforcement can also help to boost their confidence when it comes to learning new technology. Remember when your mother kept getting angry when you didn't understand that one maths problem before a test and how pressured you felt? You wished for your mother to be gentler with you. So, in our position of being the teacher, we can work to become gentler with our parents.

Unlike us, our parents were not born into a world where extensive use of technology is almost like second-nature. Therefore, empathising with their struggles of trying to fit into this new world will take you a long way.

References:

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2020, October 27). Study helps explain why motivation to learn declines with age.

News From Brown (n.d.).  Many older brains have plasticity, but in a different place.

Azra Humayra is a part-time roach squasher and full-time trash television connoisseur. Send her show recommendations at: azrahumayra123@gmail.com