What BrightCanary Can Tell You About Your Child’s Well-Being

Adolescence is a time of major social and emotional change. As anyone who’s witnessed a preteen door slam can attest, it can bring with it some pretty big feelings. It’s also notoriously when kids start to withdraw from parents and often refuse to talk about what’s really bothering them.

If you want to check in with your child’s emotional well-being but are hitting a brick wall, BrightCanary is an excellent tool for improving your connection with your closed-off kiddo. 

This article will explain how BrightCanary’s advanced emotional insights, coupled with some tried-and-true analog parenting strategies, can help you understand what’s going on with your child so you can spot any red flags and do your part to support their well-being. 

What is a child's emotional well-being?

Child emotional well-being refers to how kids manage their feelings, cope with stress, and build healthy relationships. It’s a key part of mental health, especially during adolescence when emotions can feel overwhelming.

How to know if your child is okay when they won’t talk about their feelings

It’s normal for your adolescent to have a hard time talking about their feelings with you, but they still need your support. That’s why it’s imperative to stay in tune with them. Here are some strategies that combine technology and face-to-face interactions to give you insight into your child’s emotional state: 

Support their interests

Showing interest in what your child likes demonstrates that what they value is important to you. That connection may motivate them to open up more. Because so much of modern adolescence takes place online, many of their interests may be hidden behind a device. That’s where BrightCanary comes in. 

The Interests section of the BrightCanary app shows you what’s captivating your child’s attention, so you know if they’re obsessed with KPop Demon Hunters or have a concerning fixation with skincare. 

Strategically limit screen time 

Focus on creating screen-free time and space for connection. Some good times to have them put down the phone: 

• The car. Kids often find it easier to open up to their parents while riding in the car.  
• Mealtime. Research consistently supports the importance of the family meal. Putting down devices while you eat together may encourage your child to open up. 
• Support, don’t fix. What your child needs the most is for you to listen to them, not jump in and try to solve things for them. The more you give them your ear without trying to fix their problems, the more they’ll feel comfortable continuing to open up. 

Embrace technology 

From exchanging memes to learning how to text with teens to using the BrightCanary Keyboard, coupling digital solutions with offline strategies is an effective way to stay in tune with your child’s well-being.  

Utilize BrightCanary’s emotional insights 

Sure, it’d be great if your child let you in on what they’re feeling and came to you every time something was wrong. But we all know that’s not going to happen. 

BrightCanary’s robust emotional insights use AI technology — informed by the American Psychological Association’s (APA) emotional categories — to bridge the gap and help you understand what your child is going through. 

Signs your child may be struggling with emotional well-being

• Withdrawing from friends or family
• Sudden changes in sleep or appetite
• Increased irritability or mood swings
• Declining grades or loss of interest in hobbies
• Spending excessive time online to escape stress

If you notice any of these signs, set aside some time to check in with your child. Remind them that they can talk to you about anything, even if they don’t fully understand what they’re feeling.

How BrightCanary monitors your child’s emotional well-being

BrightCanary’s emotional insights were developed utilizing the widely recognized categories of emotions. Here’s how it works: 

• BrightCanary’s AI technology scans your child’s online activity and, using the APA’s definitions of emotions, highlights what they seem to be feeling, such as anxiety, confusion, or excitement. 
• Summaries explain what key signals the app captured that led to each conclusion about your child’s emotional state.   
• Quotes are pulled from your child’s online activity to provide you additional context. 
• Full transcripts are always available for when you need the full story. 

How parents can use BrightCanary to support their child’s emotional well-being

Technology is a great tool, but it’s not the endgame when it comes to your child’s well-being. Here’s how to couple BrightCanary’s AI-powered insights with your uniquely human parenting skills to level up how you support your child. 

• Pay attention to alerts. If the app notices a concern with your child’s emotional state, you’ll get an alert. That’s when it’s time to check in with them and find out more about what’s going on. 
• Dig deeper. BrightCanary’s summaries are designed to give you maximum insight in the most efficient way by providing a concise overview along with quotes from your child’s online activity for context. But having the full story can be helpful as you formulate a plan to support your child. That’s why you can always click to view the full transcript. 
• Partner with your child. The goal of BrightCanary’s emotional insights isn’t to put a wall of technology between you and your child; it’s to serve as a bridge. Be open with your child about why you’re installing BrightCanary. Collaborate with them as you devise a plan for using the app, check in with them on how it’s going, and don’t be afraid to adjust as needed. 

Knowing your child’s emotions is key to understanding their well-being, yet tweens and teens often have a hard time opening up about how they’re feeling. BrightCanary’s research-backed emotional insights help you understand the stress, social pressure, and emotional ups and downs your child is going through. Download the app today so you can better support your child’s well-being.