Karin Prien, the Federal Minister for Family in the CDU, rejects the practice of parents tracking their children using smartphones and other devices. Speaking to the newspapers of the Mediengruppe Bayern on Friday, Prien stated, “Children have a right to not be watched.”
She added that the issue is naturally dependent on age, noting that the answer for a toddler is different than for an elementary school child or a teenager. Nevertheless, the CDU politician emphasized that children have a right to gradually learn self-responsibility. A key part of this is ensuring they do not feel they are being constantly monitored at every turn.
Prien also suggested that making mistakes is part of growing up. She cautioned that an overly sheltered childhood can potentially harm children.
The minister expressed the belief that for many parents, the natural experience of parenting has diminished to some extent, partly because intergenerational exchange, such as with grandparents, has also changed. She recounted arguing with her own mother about whether she should let a baby cry or force children to finish their plates. She concluded by saying, “Today there are more parenting guides than ever; parents are raising children under immense pressure to be perfect. Everything is very thought-driven and lacks intuition.”
