Technology is such a large part of our lives, sometimes we don’t even realize just HOW far reaching it is. For kids today, they have access and are exposed to streams of technology that we ourselves never could have imagined as kids.
When I was little, high tech communication was the telephone, that was about it. Walkie-talkies were for SERIOUS tech geeks with lots of money.
The average child today has dozens of tech devices at their disposal. Phones, tablets, laptops, handheld video games, large gaming systems… the list is endless and guess what — it’s growing!
As a parent, particularly as a parent with a love of technology, it’s hard sometimes to get our kids to disconnect from technology, but the upshot is that we have to. Tech can be a vortex that sucks up time and energy. As much as I love and live for technology every day, even I admit that it can all be too much sometimes and recognize how important it is for kids to “unplug.”
Here’s a rule of thumb, Don’t be complacent. I know it’s easy sometimes —- when kids are wrapped up in playing a video game for 30 minutes, well that’s 30 minutes of peace and quiet, right? Right. And that’s all well and good, except for when it stretches out into 1, 2, even 3 hours.
That’s way too much.
Chances are when you tell your kids that it’s time for a break, you’ll be met with the traditional cries of “There’s NOTHING to do!”
So prepare for that to happen, and arm yourself with these ideas:
I’ve heard a few truly sad stories where parents have tried in vain to get their kids to put away their tech devices, only to be met with blank stares. Ultimately the parents give up and admit defeat, bowing down that technology has the upper hand.
I’m not kidding when I tell you that I really find that heartbreaking. Don’t be that family.
Our children are kids for just a fleeting moment of time. Hours turn into weeks, turn into years in a heartbeat and we can’t get that time back.
It’s okay to disconnect from technology. It’s a lifestyle, not life support.
We can do this.
Printer-friendly version
