The shared responsibility of parents, institutions and experts is to provide children with a safe, supportive and stimulating environment in a world that is changing faster than ever, was announced at the Click with Children 2.0 conference, which is organized by Crnogorski Telekom and the Parents Association, and is being held today at the Science and Technology Park in Podgorica.
The theme of the second edition of the largest conference dedicated to parenting is "Digital Childhood: Borders and Freedom", and parents had the opportunity to learn everything they were interested in about early development, emotional health, and digital growing up from eminent experts from the region and Montenegro.
Minister of Social Welfare, Childcare and Demography Damir Gutic He reminded that today's children live in a world where friendships are made with one click, but one click can also open the door to violence, manipulation, commercialization of childhood and violation of privacy.
"That is precisely why the responsibility of all of us parents, teachers, experts, institutions and the state has never been greater. Digital childhood is not a matter of the future, but of the present. That is why the Government of Montenegro and the Ministry I manage pay special attention to the safety and well-being of children in the online space. It is our duty that children use digital technologies for learning, creativity and development, but also that they are protected from all types of digital violence, exploitation and abuse," Gutić emphasized.
He pointed out that the state is working to strengthen a multi-sectoral system for protecting children from digital violence, especially through cooperation between social work centers, schools, police and the judiciary, parent support programs, the development of guidelines for safe internet use for younger children, and education for professionals who work with the youngest.
He also believes that it is important to include children and young people in creating digital security policies because the digital world belongs to them and they are its best experts.
"Only together can we draw boundaries that are not obstacles, but safe lines in which children can move. To give them freedom that is not a danger but the foundation of a healthy upbringing. This conference once again shows that Montenegro is ready to be a society that invests in children, protects them and provides them with the best we have, which is support and a safe environment," concluded Gutić.
President of the Assembly of the Capital City Jelena Borovinić Bojović She emphasized that it is everyone's common task to make the digital world safe for children.
"The digital world opens up opportunities for children that no generation before them has had: a space to learn, explore, create, develop their talents, and connect with their peers. Along with all these advantages, the digital space also carries risks – from excessive use to exposure to inappropriate content, online violence, data misuse, and privacy violations. That is why our task is to teach them how to recognize risky situations, who to turn to, and how to protect their data," said Borovinić Bojović.
She emphasized that it is necessary to support parents in understanding what their children are exploring in the digital space, in learning how to monitor them, not control them - in order to jointly set rules that protect their mental health, emotions, and sense of safety.
"The capital will continue to provide full support to all initiatives that strengthen parents, children and professionals, and that contribute to the creation of a safe and stimulating digital environment for every child," emphasized Borovinić Bojović.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation Tatjana Ćalasan She reminded that digital literacy is not reserved only for students, but is also crucial for parents and teachers.
"That is why I welcome the conference's special focus on parental media literacy and responsible use of online materials. We must empower those closest to children - professionals, parents and educators - to be navigation systems in this complex digital ocean. No ministry, no institution, no parent can solve all the challenges of digital childhood on their own. We need synergy," she said.
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports will, as she pointed out, continue to implement innovative programs and strengthen digital infrastructure in schools.
"Schools and teachers must be centers for teaching about ethics and safety on the Internet. Parents must be partners in monitoring and guiding. Experts must give us guidelines based on science and practice," believes Ćalasan.
Head of Finance Department at Crnogorski Telekom Gordana Blagojević She emphasized, on behalf of the organizers, the importance of this event not only because it brings together experts and parents, but also because it attracts the attention of the entire community to an issue that is one of the most sensitive and responsible in modern society - how to enable children to grow up safely and healthily in a digital environment that has become an inseparable part of their everyday lives.
"At Crnogorski Telekom, we witness every day how much the way of communication, learning and connecting has changed in a very short time. We see how the digital space is becoming a place where children explore, ask their first questions, form their interests and identity - but also a place where they can encounter what can confuse, scare or hurt them. As a company at the very center of the digital transformation of society, we are aware that our role is not only to build networks and technologies. Our role is also to contribute to the creation of a space in which technology is used thoughtfully, responsibly and in the service of human development," said Blagojević.
She reminded us that technology makes our lives easier every day and supports us in the fast pace of modern times, but equally - thanks to it - we have the power to make the digital space better.
"Let's shape it so that it nurtures, protects and empowers. To become a place that, regardless of all the challenges, is healthy and safe, especially for our youngest. That's why gatherings like this are extremely important," said Blagojević.
Executive Director of the Parents Association Kristina Mihailović She pointed out the importance of the support that parents need.
"We don't have a parenting manual. We don't have a school where we can go and learn how to be prepared for everything that awaits us. But we regularly hear that the family is to blame for everything that is wrong in society. If there is not already a system that will give parents clear models and tools, then it is up to us to create places like this — where not criticism is shared, but knowledge, experience and support. That is why Klik sa djecom 2.0 is important," emphasized the executive director of the Parents association, Kristina Mihailović.
According to her, that's why, in a time when everything is changing at an incredible speed, we need to stop, listen to the profession, and understand what it means to be a parent today, what it means to be a child, and what growing up looks like between screens, expectations, and real life.
"This conference is a space for us to clarify together what parents are most afraid to ask, but most need to know. To learn how to protect children without creating panic. How to establish boundaries without completely banning. How to nurture freedom without neglecting responsibility," said MIhailović.
The first panel of the conference was dedicated to the topic "Online violence and hate speech among children and young people", and the current state, challenges and recommendations for parents were discussed by Jakša Backović, MA, Master of Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation, Balša Savić, court expert for information technology, and Brahim Kajević, youth worker and psychologist. In addition to data such as the fact that there are around 900 thousand sexual predators stalking children in the world at any given time, parents had the opportunity to learn about possible risks and protection measures, as well as data on the insufficient systemic support when it comes to the mental health of children and young people.
She spoke about Balkan parenting and the changes if it carries digital goodness Danijela Ostojic, a clinical psychologist and cognitive-behavioral therapist from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who pointed out that the solution is not to ban technology, but rather emotional literacy and learning how to connect with children.
Children, as she told parents, need the experience of unconditional acceptance - that they don't have to earn love through success or behavior, secure attachment - that they are allowed to make mistakes, express sadness, say "no", but also a model of an authentic parent who acknowledges their own limits, vulnerability, and imperfections.
"In the Balkans, we raised children to be obedient, because we believed that would make them safe. Today we know that safety does not come from obedience, but from authentic contact and emotional connection," said Ostojić.
Systemic family psychotherapist and educator at Familylab Serbia Ivana Muškinja She looked at what actually happens to a relationship when a baby arrives in the family.
Muškinja pointed out that each parent brings with them their own family heritage and invisible parenting scripts that are activated precisely when we are most tired, worried or overwhelmed. “In this sense, diversity between partners is not an obstacle but a potential, but only if there is the ability to recognize these differences, translate them into the language of needs and negotiate without nullifying the other, which is confirmed by relational theories and findings from research on affective attachment,” Muškinja pointed out.
Following the conference, parents had the opportunity to attend lectures Marija Sazdeva, a master's degree in psychological sciences, an educator and founder of the Golden Academy from North Macedonia. The conference participants are: Gloria Peranic, master's degree in educational rehabilitation, early and preschool education teacher and educator in child and adolescent integrative psychotherapy, as well as Tomislav Kuljiš, founder of the IPD Center and Integral Body Psychotherapy from Croatia, one of the most respected regional experts in parenting and body psychotherapy.
The panel participants included: Filip Jovanovski, PhD student in communication studies and Marjan Popović, expert in multimedia content and digital product development at Crnogorski Telekom.
