Why iPads should leave the dinner table
DISCLAIMER: The author is not a parent and has not been through the “kid wringer”
At 7 years old, days are filled with imaginative games about fairies and dragons. A backyard that might just be a lawn with trees to anyone else, is a big castle or animal-filled jungle to young eyes. Children run through the streets in their own world of adventure. But the future is grim because soon, with technology, children won’t know how to climb trees.
The next generation of parents are in an influential position. They can change the role that technology has on their children. Our parents were blind to the dangers of technology because new products were constantly being made, and it was impossible to keep up. As a result, the consequences of staring at a screen for hours was unknown, but they slowly deprived us of moments of creativity. Let’s dissect the science behind the ever-growing rise of screen time.
“High users of screens were more likely to lose their temper, less likely to calm down when excited, and less likely to switch tasks without anxiety or anger,” a ScienceDirect case study focusing on children uncovered. School is challenging enough in junior high, and adding psychological factors that stem from screen use is a difficult feat for young minds.
It’s common to hear that raising happy children will help them grow into happy adults. Technology is hindering the joy from childhood and taking away the ability to have original thoughts. There are 24 hours in a day. This time can be spent outside, or with family and friends. But the average screen time for children and teens is seven hours a day, according to CBS News. However, self-awareness can play a role in minimizing screen time.
The ability to make decisions becomes clearer with age, and the amount of screen time children utilize will be their own choice. The goal is to help them build foundational tools to avoid being sucked into Netflix for hours upon hours. Actions are easier said than done, and recognizing the intent behind these technological changes is crucial.
Parents also play a part in this active change. Over the past 10 years, there have been monumental changes within parenting tactics; however, some concepts remain the same. For example, parents of the past and present aim to get their kids in and out of the grocery store without too much ruckus. But the tactic that’s changed is bribery. Bribery itself is not a new concept, but it has switched from giving a child a candy bar to handing them an iPad. Neither act is to be judged; sometimes getting through the cereal aisle necessitates the giving of chocolate, and sometimes it means handing over an iPad.
Despite the toils that come with the looming role of technology, change is possible. Right now, the rising amount of research warns against the quick-paced advancements in entertainment and everyday functions. We can choose another direction, that will not sacrifice a playful and creative childhood –– a direction that strays away from the screens that are at the center of our worlds. There are arguments across the board about future advancements. Some say that technology is a positive thing to implement into all lives.
Technology has created a platform for both educational and social purposes. Programs have slowly been implemented into schools, and children have opportunities to explore the internet — a place with all the answers. As with anything, there are pros and cons to the situation. Ideally, if screens are being used at school, then the home can provide other activities and distractions.
Our understanding of a child’s brain advances as time goes on, and so does a parent’s ability to adapt to the information. There is a fine line between being consumed by technology and utilizing it as a tool for future decision making.
There are life-altering advancements with technology with education, medicine, communication and more. Monitoring its impact and balancing time management is crucial for loved ones to learn together, because adults are not exempt from the screen draw. Healthy habits created at a young age will hopefully translate into a healthy lifestyle in later years; however, children often mirror those around them. Sometimes adults don’t practice what they preach. We should try and set examples by putting down the phone, reading a book or going outside. These actions can set a realistic expectation for the young eyes watching.
Future generations of kids should use any spark of imagination they have to go outside and explore — and the response to technology is in our hands. So go climb a tree!