One of the biggest things affecting childen's
play time today is technology. It's easy and obvious to realize technology is
taking over our kids lives today. Technology is everywhere, and technology is
great with lots of benefits for us as a society, but it also has done a lot of
damage, especially in the lives of children. Kids are being given iPhones at a
very early age, at even 7 or 8 years old, maybe younger. Kids have access to
computers, video games, iPads, tablets, and excessive TV time.
I read an article recently about technology, and the writer said something that has really stuck with me. The writer grew up in a time where kids spent all their time outside playing; kids roamed the neighborhood and played in groups for hours and hours. What he said that really stuck out to me was when the Nintendo 64 was invented, kids headed inside, and a lot of kids never came back out, almost as if they dropped off the face of the earth and childhood play ended. This person's comment really stuck out to me because it's really deep and a clear reality of childhood today. In addition to video games, so much technology has taken over our kids' lives; it has resulted in our kids vanishing from the outside world after going inside, and kids aren't playing anymore. Kids have been given access to an excessive amount of technology, and it's one of the leading causes of the lack of childhood play in today's world. I myself personally believe many parents and adults do not know where to draw the line at for children and technology access. Over scheduled kids is one leading cause of Play Deficit and Nature Deficit Disorder, but technology is just as big, if not bigger, and it's continuing to grow.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has been warning for decades about cutting screen time down for kids, but with more and more screens being introduced, with the invention of smartphones and iPads and tablets, the problem seems to be getting worse and becoming out of hand. The sad part is many adults are continuing to ignore the recommendations for children by leading experts.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has been warning for decades about cutting screen time down for kids, but with more and more screens being introduced, with the invention of smartphones and iPads and tablets, the problem seems to be getting worse and becoming out of hand. The sad part is many adults are continuing to ignore the recommendations for children by leading experts.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that children and teens spend an average of 7 hours a day engaged in entertainment media, where as they recommend that children 2 and under receive no screen time and children between 3 and 18 receive no more than 2 hours a day. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, excessive screen time can cause many problems for children, which include attention problems, school difficulties, sleep and eating disorders, and obesity. The AAP has stated that it's "important for kids to spend time on outdoor play, reading, hobbies, and using their imagination in free play ".
The AAP has also said that it's vital for toddlers and infants to have social interaction with people, rather than screen interactions because it's how they develop and learn best.
The AAP has also said that it's vital for toddlers and infants to have social interaction with people, rather than screen interactions because it's how they develop and learn best.
Although the overuse of technology and excessive screen time is a huge current problem in our world, it isn't an impossible problem to combat; in fact it's a crisis situation that needs to be taken care of. Our kids' lives and childhoods depend on it. Experts recommend that parents and other adults limit their child's screen time down to the AAP recommended daily amounts; experts also recommend parents establish "screen free " zones, meaning having no TV, computers, video games, or other electronics in children's bedrooms. Experts also recommend that when children do engage in media to make sure it's appropriate and high quality.
Also adults can provide non-electronic things for kids to engage with like paperback and hardback books and even board games. Most importantly taking children outside is probably the most important thing adults can do. No matter what, it's important to understand that technology and screen time can be and is becoming a huge problem for kids today, and there are things we can and should do about it.
Also adults can provide non-electronic things for kids to engage with like paperback and hardback books and even board games. Most importantly taking children outside is probably the most important thing adults can do. No matter what, it's important to understand that technology and screen time can be and is becoming a huge problem for kids today, and there are things we can and should do about it.
I'd like to close out my posting here on kids and technology by sharing with you an article that was published in 2014 by the New York Times. Steve jobs, the founder and leader of Apple for many decades, passed away in 2011, just a year after the iPad came out and a few years after the first iPhone came out. The article published after his death revealed that Jobs was a low tech parent, and even he knew the dangers of technology getting into the hands of children. He limited the use of technology with his kids at home because he understood children could become addicted very easily. The article shares the experience of Jobs and many other people who work in the tech world today who understand how children become addicted to technology, and lots of people in this industry understand how important is is to limit their children's technology use.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/fashion/steve-jobs-apple-was-a-low-tech-parent.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/fashion/steve-jobs-apple-was-a-low-tech-parent.html