In the times we live in today, its hard to believe how much technology has invaded our everyday lives. As a millennial, I have been able to enjoy pre-cell phone days to smart phone days where your phone does everything the yellow pages, phone book, atlas, encyclopedia, newspapers, and Nintendo did for us a couple of years ago. All in one! Its knowledge, and entertainment all at the reach of your fingertips.
As a parent, we have the choice to make as to how much and when we will introduce this technology to our kids. I found it disheartening this past weekend as I read in the New York Daily news, (yes on my phone), that they are finding more and more kids as young as 4 addicted to i-Phones and i-pads. Kids who lack the motor skills to play with building blocks and play-doh and can only swipe their fingers across a touch screen. It also showed they spend up to as much 4 hours a day attached to a tablet or phone. I can't make this up. However, I don't find it hard to believe. My husband and I see it everywhere, TVs in cars, kids on tablets playing or watching movies at doctors offices, at restaurants, stores and even parks. It seems as parents we may be guilty of using technology as our new found babysitter. Something to entertain and pass the time as we get to do that we want.
I have to be honest with you, we have this joke at work that I am Amish. Basically, because I have refused to let so much technology invade our lives. My husband and I both have a smart Windows Phone that functions as both as our phone and our computer, however with a 6 year old boy and a 2 year old girl, we don't own a computer with Internet connection, we do not pay for DVR services, and we own no tablet, reading device or game console such as X-Box or Wii. I know you may find it quite extreme, but its worked for us really good. From the moment we became parents, we decided we wanted our kids to have as much human interaction as possible in a world being taken over by machines.
We have also been very proactive in taking education into our hands. We cannot be the generation that thinks Diego , Dora, Mickey Mouse and Elmo will teach our kids everything they need to know. I know that we have a lot of work still to be done, as parenting is a learn as you go job, but people are usually quite impressed with our kid's knowledge and conversational skills. As much as people who know me say they got their intelligence from me since I was a straight A student, I have to say that a kid's brain has so much potential if only we feed it and nurture it at the right time.
Research shows kid's brains are like a sponge at younger ages, so why do we wait til they're 5 years old and in kindergarten to start teaching them? Besides limiting the amount of exposure to technology, start as soon as possible. Don't baby talk them. Start pointing out family members, body parts, and daily activities by names. They may not understand, but they are absorbing! As soon as my kids started walking, I taped words to things all around the house. Door, sink, fridge, toilet, closet, everything! Sure they may not know how to read at that age, but they start early word recognition. As young as 2, I have started reciting ABC's and teaching them sounds and words with that letter. Also teaching them how to point them out. Numbers, colors and shapes have also been easy to learn by using simple flashcards, crayons and shape blocks. Not apps.
My kids are not little geniuses, nor am I saying I'm some sort of expert on early childhood education, but it seems we are disengaging ourselves more and more from basic child interaction and teaching. Before we can talk about a failing education system, we have to analyze ourselves and see if we really are giving our children all the opportunities to learn and develop their full potential. From teacher friends, to my son's teachers, they are always looking for parent involvement. Let's stop being so consumed by technology, and apps, and go back to face to face teaching. Pick up pencils, crayons, flashcards and make it fun for your kids!
Not only should we limit the amount of technology they use, but also make a conscious effort to unplug from it yourself and spend one on one time with your kids. Let meal times be meal times and instead of entertaining the kids with the tablet at the table to place your order, talk to them, have them read the menu, teach them table manners, how to be aware of their surroundings.
I understand, I can't be Amish forever, and neither can I control the amount of technology my kids use at school, but I do know in an i-generation it has to be I that decides to take charge and responsibility as a parent, to educate my children, with knowledge, manners, people skills, and common sense. They can't get that from an I-pad or I-phone no matter how many apps you download. And the most important thing you can't pay for is their parents love, attention and time!
There's no better investment you can make than researching and coming up with new ways to teach and spend time with your kids.
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