Raising Tech Savvy Children

As parents, how do we compete with the Wii, laptop, iPod, iPhone, iPad, XBox, PS3, DS3D, Kinect, Leapad, cable TV and every other tech gadget on the planet? Simple: we don't compete! What where we (80's babies) doing before all the electornics: talking, having dinner, playing outside, exploring, being children. When I grew up in the 80's, we had an Atari, VHS player, stereo, typewriter, and a computer in the home (Im dating myself b/c all of those items minus the computer are OLD-LOL). I remember being outside far more than I used or played with any of the electornics we had. We also had a set of encyclopedias, magazines, books, and artwork in my home. I was fortunate to grow up in an area where nature was abound and abundant. Naturally, I was an inquisitve and creative seeker of knowledge. I had a balance of both worlds. Nowadays children are getting more of the devices and less of the experiences. Children want, need, and appreciate boundaries and rules including limits with their gadgets. Okay the last part is an overstatement, they dont like limits on their gadgets, which makes for good priveledge tools.

My children have (courtesy of their gracious grandparents) all the latest tech gadgets. We set limits, no gadgets during the week so that they will focus on their school work (we cave in every now and then, but stick to this for the most part). On the weekends we try to plan activities outside of the house to get them moving. We sometimes play the Wii togther which is good for family fun. On their Ipods, we play games like Scrabble (yes we are semi-nerds) and Monopoly. Lately my 6 year old has been wearing me out with Scrabble.

Technology is not a bad thing. It is a very good thing, this advancement of knowledge and the capacity to absorb, communicate, translate, transfer and trancscend knowledge. Technology has endless capabilities. We have the proverbial story of a 2 or 3 year old who knows how to operate a remote or cell phone better than an adult. There are 4 things we as parents should be concerned with. One is getting children to have a balance so they understand and value human interaction. You can not text your job interview, you cannot text a speech to your corporation (maybe if you were Steve Jobs or are Bill Gates), and you still need to know how to answer a landline correctly. Two, children need to be safe while using technology, so many people exploit children through technology. Parents must monitor and advocate for safe use of technology. Thirdly, how technology is shaping a child's mind, inspiring creativity, and promoting learning. Finally children still need to have their heads held high, nowadays everyone's head is down, buried in their phone. I fear we'll be walking on all fours soons because our heads are so low. Next time you're in a public venue, notice all the people with their head buried in their phone, laptop, or tablet, you will be shocked. Make sure your children keep their heads up! Read more below:

Here is some insight from www.gigharbor.patch.com:


Are we teaching our children to lead a balanced life?

This generation of children is able to grasp technology and its advantages. But some of the simple, common-sense things we know are slipping through the cracks of knowledge that kids are getting from home and school.

For instance, most children do know about text messages on cell phones. On the flip side, some college-age students do not know how to address a letter, where to buy stamps and the importance of a thank-you note sent swiftly (within two weeks).

How about seven-year-olds who learned to Velcro their shoes and still do not know how to tie a bow on the sneakers? This is convenient for fast-off and on shoes because parenting these days is a speedway of trips in the car with places to go and things to see.

But kids need to learn fine motor skills. These small, muscle skills are important to developing handwriting, picking up and placing things and hand-eye coordination. Coloring, drawing, and, yes, even video game playing can help this small motor skill develop.

The family often is running from place to place, and grab-and-go dinners happen far too often. Do our middle school children know how to work a can opener? Can reading a recipe teach them some survival skills? Yes, we have been told that family dinners are important for building relationships, but they can teach knowledge of a life time skills too. How to make a salad, when to start the vegetables so they are ready with the chicken casserole can be passed onto most middle schoolers.

This generation has gained technology information and speed, and there is a label being placed on this challenge. It is called "growing up Google". Can we help them become problem-solvers without sending them to the search button on the computer? It's okay to research for knowledge, but there is another type of knowledge search, only this one is gained from a lifetime of experience.

By being involved in the family, community and school, children young and old can be well-balanced in learning.

There is a benefit to common knowledge given to children through example, parental teaching and life learning. Things like taking a walk, studying nature, seeing how the sun comes up and goes down at night can all be told through pictures. But doing it yourselves and seeing it in real-life provides another life time learning. Skills that are developed while experiencing things hands-on can be balanced with technology like cell phones, computers, DVRs, and the Internet.

Let's make sure that our children can ride a bike, throw a skipping stone, tie their shoes, know how to read a recipe and follow it. Teach common skills. The benefit for our children will last for a lifetime.