Modern motherhood often feels like a whirlwind of school reminders, dinner plans, and endless mental checklists. However, many Australian mums are discovering that small pockets of technology can quietly help them stay on top of it all.
Tech as a Lifeline for Busy Families
For Phoebe Smith, a mother of two, technology is not about a fully digital lifestyle but about using the right tools at the right time. She credits the school WhatsApp group as a lifesaver, noting that with so much information coming through emails and apps, it is easy to miss important updates. A shared family calendar, used alongside a physical one at home, helps keep everyone aligned. “We send each other requests and it just drops into the diary,” she explains. “It’s how we manage pick-ups, sports and events and make sure everything runs on time.”
Phoebe also turns to Instagram for meal inspiration during the week when she is trying to think of what to cook. Online banking is another essential tool, allowing her to keep track of finances when she has time to process everything. Her phone has become the centre of most daily tasks, from banking and news to fitness tracking and music. Even small moments of downtime often turn into productivity, such as booking gym classes from bed at night or catching up on news subscriptions.
The Importance of Routine
Routine is key to keeping everything steady in a busy household. “If we don’t stick to a routine, everything else falls over a bit,” Phoebe says. “If we do, the kids sleep better and the week just runs smoother.” She admits that being constantly connected requires a balancing act, as she does not always want her children seeing her on her phone. However, she emphasises that technology helps with day-to-day functioning. “It’s not about doing more … It’s about having things organised enough that you can actually breathe a bit in between.”
Expert Insights on Screen Time
Jeff Woodhouse, Executive General Manager of Mobile and Computer Technology at Harvey Norman, notes that being organised is a priority for mums because it reduces household stress. “That’s often what’s at play and can be a real strain for some who feel like things are getting away from them,” he says.
Screen time is a modern parenting reality, and experts recommend rethinking how we talk about it. Kathy Modecki, a Distinguished Professor at the University of Western Australia, explains that screen time is not all the same. “There’s junk food, there’s health food, there’s benign foods … screen time can be an amalgamation,” she says. She advises parents to consider what children are actually doing online, as different activities come with different risks and opportunities.
Professor Modecki suggests being a coach rather than a referee when it comes to screen time. “Building communication and trust will go a million miles further,” she says. This approach resonates with Jacqui Layley, who manages devices when her grandchildren visit. With five grandchildren ranging in age, she sees how quickly screens can take over but combats this by keeping them active. “I took them to the forest to do a tree climb … try to keep them as active as possible without being stuck in the house,” she says.
Ms Layley also acknowledges the benefits of technology, particularly for safety. “It’s great because you’ve got that technology to keep in touch … you’ve got your FaceTime and all that,” she says. She allows phones with rules, such as no downloads without permission, to keep an eye on what the children are doing and block risky content.
Building Trust with Boundaries
Professor Modecki emphasises that boundaries work best when paired with trust. “If a kid wants to get around things … there are all these workarounds,” she says. “What we want is understanding and trust.”
For mums looking to simplify their lives with technology, products like the FotoStream 7-inch WiFi Digital Photo Frame, Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer AI Glasses, Cricut Maker 4 Essentials Bundle, and Onyx Boox Go Color 7 Gen 2 eReader are popular choices available at Harvey Norman.
