Published on: November 28, 2016
It’s hard to get away from technology these days. Smartphones, smartwatches, smart TVs, tablets, laptops, game consoles, and various other digital knickknacks. They’re everywhere. In fact, the average consumer owns 3.64 connected devices in 2016.
Technology on its own is neither good nor bad, though. It’s all in how we use it. As parents and educators, we have an obligation to help our children develop a healthy relationship with technology in their lives.
Children need to understand it to appreciate the pros and cons.
We live in a digital, always-on society, and ignoring or actively shunning that does ourselves and our kids a disservice. They will need tech skills. They will use devices in their future careers. They need to be digitally capable and savvy.
Like so much, it’s all about moderation and our attitude towards it.
To begin with, let’s remember that modern technology does have a lot of good things to offer: access to information, convenient storage, retrieval, and production of documents and assignments, creation of digital media like video, music, and images, communication across great distances, and fantastic collaboration possibilities.
Many experts suggest highlighting these uses, of pointing out that technology is about more than just consumption of media. It’s also about creation and connection. Find opportunities to use technology with your children that involves creating something with them (record a song, make a mini movie, manipulate digital photos in a funny way), or connecting with another person (video call with Grandma and Grandpa, sending an email to a pen pal in another country).
Move them beyond just watching videos and playing games.
Psychologists believe that we engage with activities in either a harmonious or obsessive way.
Harmonious activities exist alongside other things in our lives. We watch a show on Netflix while taking the bus to meet up with friends (but then put the device away when we get there).
Obsessive activities take over, like canceling plans with those same friends so you can play online video games and keep watch over everyone’s Twitter feed.
Ensure your child has a harmonious relationship. Texting with friends to make plans? That’s okay. Staying up all night to post on Facebook? That’s not okay.
Every child is different, so blanket statements and guidelines are imperfect at best. Only you can say for sure whether your or a loved one’s relationship with technology is healthy.
That said, there are a few widely accepted best practices to follow:
There’s no escaping technology, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s all in how you approach it, how you use it, and the control you give it over you.
At Pear Tree, we introduce technology in our Early Years Program because we recognize the role it will play in the lives of children growing up today. It’s a necessary enhancement to their learning and skill set.
Create, connect, and consume, in that order. That’s healthy tech for the 21st century.