by Karen (originally published on Karen's Chronicles)
I read this blog post today in which the author describes his daughter, who is under 2 years old, and her ability to use and interest in his iPhone. The final paragraph poses interesting questions about children and technology:
It’s hard to know how, as parents, we should handle our kids’ relationship with technology because theirs is the first generation born in this technology obsessed age of Facebook. Is this just part of being a 21st century kid? Or is there something we should do as parents to curtail this?
My first instinct was YES, this is just part of being a 21st century kid and NO, we shouldn't curtail it. I decided to comment on the piece, because Matt and I both have a healthy interest in tech that has led to a generous supply of gadgets strewn about our home. When I comment, I tend to fly past other comments so as not to be influenced in my thoughts about the post. Then I will go back and read them. Here's what I said:
I love tech and gadgets. I want my son to love them too. He’s three and he has his own iPod Touch which we bought used to protect our iPhones that are far more expensive to replace. He’s been very good at taking care of it. He’s also careful with our iPad. We’ve taught him these things.
Here’s my take on it: kids *need* to learn these things. It’s going to be essential for their success in this life. Tech is only going to get more and more integrated in our lives. To cut them out of that would be a real disservice.
That said, they also need to know how to put it down and turn it off. To establish boundaries that they keep – perhaps better than their parents who are the first generation to have these things incorporated into their work/personal lives.
After going back and reading the other comments, I started to wonder if I have it all wrong. Words popped out at me from the comments: worry, scary, misgivings.
iPods are good for more than just playing games. They make nice hats too. ;)
I don't get it. Why is this scary? Do we not remember our parents reacting the same way when we instinctively knew how to use the first CD player we ever touched without reading a manual? I'm pretty sure there was a time in the late 1800s when parents said, "I don't see why Billy needs a phonograph. If he gets one he'll spend all his time playing with it. I don't like these new-fangled gadgets the kids always want."
And a hundred years from now, parents will be saying, "No, Billy, you can't have a jet-pack. You're still too young to fly to school."
Those parents who dealt with the phonograph handled it. My parents who had the VCR to contend with handled it. We'll be able to handle the iPhones and I'm happy to leave the jet-pack question to my great-great-great-great grandchildren.
I used to be the non-mom who swore up and down that I wouldn't let my kids play video games or watch TV. Well, Brandon's (almost) three and I'm not too proud to admit that I've broken both of those vows - many times.
You know what else? We also turn off the TV. And the iPod. And the iPhone. We play with Brandon - inside and out. We take him places around town and he's slowly learning to play with other children.
It isn't scary that a child so young can unlock an iPod/iPhone and use it. Children learn by watching and it only takes a couple of times for them to see how mommy or daddy do it - and voila, they do it themselves. Brandon unlocked Matt's iPod Touch for the first time when he was about 18 months old. Now he has his own (bought used) and he knows how to pick the music he wants to listen to (he also figured out how to delete it), open any app he wants and play the games I've installed for him.
I think the iPod Touch is just about the greatest kids' toy ever. And you know what? For the price of about four or five Leap Frog interactive educational toys, I can buy the (used) Touch along with countless interactive educational games that he loves that is compact and extremely portable with zero loose parts to lose and scatter all over the world. As a bonus, I'm teaching Brandon to love Angry Birds, much to his father's chagrin.
As I said in my comment on the blog, teaching children how to set boundaries around the technology that they will grow into adulthood with is what our biggest challenge is. Trying to bar them from any access to technology is futile and, in my humble opinion, probably not the wisest decision. Children need to learn how to use technology. They need to learn about the negative sides, like spam and other deceptive practices that are used. Parents can help their children navigate these issues, teaching them along the way. The end result that I hope for is a child who has a healthy interest and attitude toward technology, gadgets and the time spent using them.
How do you deal with gadgets and children in your house? Do you think restricting gadget use entirely is more beneficial? we'd love to hear your thoughts!
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Karen Wilson is a wife to Matt and mom to Brandon (3), who blogs about her life at Karen’s Chronicles. She also explores one of her favourite topics – social media – at her blog, The Media Mesh. You can follow Karen on twitter and find her in other places here.
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