So, I’ve discussed my addiction to blogging, and my reliance on technology this week.
How about childhood, ours and theirs, our children’s? Where was/is the technology there?
There are so many posts, videos, articles about what life was like when we were younger, and how they were the good old days…
And it’s true, you know, in so many ways.
…<<<Then…<<<
We only had one tv so watching something was we did as a family. The time we got a second tv, it was a tiny thing in the spare room, and used as we had numerous visitors come to stay, so, I guess, for their convenience… And finally mine, when I was allowed to have the spare room as my own!
I would spend my spare time reading, or writing, drawing, or helping my mum do various things.
My brother, the more active of the two of us, was already out in the park or on his bike, with his friends. If he wasn’t out at the park, he was playing football or cricket, or basketball, or generally haring around like a loon in our luxuriously large garden… We were lucky with that!
With the advent of technology, we did get a computer, a Commadore 64, and weren’t we proud of it!!
Arguing over who would play the games first, it was so cool!
Slowly, a Sega Megadrive was added to the mix… Sonic the Hedgehog, and Golden Axe! What fun!
I actually remember my love of books was so strong, that when I was about to take my A-levels, there was a book, Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy, that came out, and for me, the initiative to get my work done, and these exams sat, was that I would read it then. A feat in itself as it is one of the longest books written in the English language!
As a family, we would spend evenings together, sometimes playing board games, or cards, and talking. It was a wonderful way to grow up!
My brother had lots of other commitments, on weekends as he was a sportsman, playing Cricket and Hockey for various teams. My Pops drove him back and forth for many a year, and he was so active, never sat down to be honest!
But technology played a small part in our childhood. a small replaceable time. It was monitored and cherished, and we didn’t take the mickey. when we were told to get off the computer or games console, or to switch off the TV, we did, AS SOON AS WE WERE TOLD!
…>>>Fast forward to now…>>>
TV is on at breakfast/lunch/dinner, actually most of the time. There is one in the lounge, bedrooms, kitchens sometimes, and it’s not totally unheard of to have on in the bathroom!
Homework not only involves pen and paper, but computers and iPads too.
Many kids have their own tablets from a young age, some even have phones at 6-7 (I got my first one at 22!).
Games consoles, not one, but 2-3 per household.
And don’t forget most homes have cars.
What does this lead to? Firstly a HUGE electricity bill! Secondly, lazy children, sometimes ungrateful kids, and a reliance on these technological devices we didn’t have.
Where is the activity outside, away from screens nowadays? Kids come home and either reach for a remote, or iPad. There’s no going out, no waking up in the holidays and saying ‘mum, I’m going to the park with my friends!’, or ‘can we go out please?’… Well, not often anyway.
Let’s see, in our household, we have two televisions. One in the living room, and one in our bedroom. Not the kids, I refuse to have one in there! We have two iPads. One is MINE, the other is for the kids and Hubby Dearest. I have a smartphone, He has 2 ( but he’s allowed, one is a work phone!). One pc, a couple of laptops, my notebook, a kids Vtech Innotab, and two old smartphones which have no SIM card, but the kids use sometimes as portable handheld devices.
That’s a lot of technology they have access to, and it’s our responsibility to control it. Yes, I am guilty of allowing the TV too much, sometimes the tv or iPad becomes a free babysitter, but I try not to rely on that. They use the iPad for two homework programmes And then ask if they can play on games or watch things on YouTube. I don’t let them keep ‘their’ phones, I allow access at the weekends, once homework is done.
But they are sneaky, they do chance it, and I sometimes find them on the iPads when they should be eating etc. I get a little defiance from them, but usually they listen. If not ‘banshee mum’ cones out, and EVERYONE listens then, even the neighbours! (I’m not that bad, honest!)
Yet still. I’m lucky. My kids do love the outdoors, and weather permitting, Lil Man will request to go in the garden after school, they do other activities, after school, football, karate, Dhol and Bhangra lessons, and Lil Princess starts a Drums Alive workshop soon too. She will also often be found praying creatively with playdough, making things with her craft box contents, the contents of which end up everywhere!
They love reading. I have a whole book case in their room, full of books. Like Princess has the kindle app, so she can use her phone to read too, if she so wishes.
But technology still looms. Writing this I realise we’re not as bad as some, they are more active than a lot of kids, but still… The last thing I want is that they develop such a strong reliance, that they forget their social skills. I’ll never forget a wedding we went to, where my two were too young to do anything other than be near us. When we were younger, we’d be running around like crazy children exploring venues, nicking extra fizzy drinks and crisps, and generally getting up to mischief, a whole bunch of us. At this wedding, however, I turned a corner, and, I’m not kidding you, there was a row of around ten children, aged from 6-14, sat along the back wall, all with handheld consoles! There was no playing with each other, no conversation, just extremely agile thumbs, tapping away…
See. That’s just it. You either allow them everything, and they know how to use all the latest stuff, but are sat indoors all the time, or you try to ban it, and have great kids who can be creative, with wonderful social skills, but they struggle at school because they don’t have access to what the other have access too.
At least my kids are sociable, they do chat, but they aren’t at a disadvantage, they know how to use the technology so they won’t struggle either. Not quite well rounded, but happily oval shaped, I think. I still feel they are already too reliant on technology, but that’s my fault. We do try to ensure they do other things, what more can I do?
How much is technology a part of your children’s lives?
How much is too much?
I’d love to hear your opinions on this one!
But I Smile Anyway... 