I could be talking to myself as much as I’m talking to my kids but that’s neither here nor there.
For Christmas 2010, my mom and dad bought me an iPad. I had been hinting that I wanted one, half-jokingly, ’cause I didn’t really think my parents would buy me one. Ever since I’ve had kids they have focused their Christmas gift money on my little ones, which is how it should be.
So imagine my surprise when I open my gift and there’s a brand new shiny iPad. Excited doesn’t begin to cover it.
Fast forward two years and the iPad is no longer mine. Technically, yes, it is mine but if ownership goes to the person who uses it the most, then my kids own that iPad.
They have roughly 100 apps on there, ranging from ABC tracing games to my son’s Thomas the Tank Engine books, to my daughter’s favorite puzzle games. I might use it once a week or so, whereas my kids play a game at least once a day.
I love that my kids ask for educational games and the developers really do make learning fun and my kids are pretty advanced.
But at the same time, I just want them to go outside. Play hopscotch. Go run in the grass. Swing on the swings. Dig in the dirt.
My kids are turning into….me.
I would much rather write a blog post than do a cartwheel in the grass. And seeing how every time (and I mean every single time) I go outside I come back in with a mosquito bite, I don’t venture outdoors much. So my kids are just emulating what they see. Mommy’s on the computer, they’re on their my iPad.
So I’m pushing out of my comfort zone ’cause that’s what good mothers do, right? I’m signing them up for gymnastics, I’m getting my oldest into some art classes and we’re going to the park much more often than I personally feel is necessary.
I’ve laid out a few new rules for their technology use:
- No more than an hour a day on the iPad
- TV goes off from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
- If you spent an hour on the iPad, you have to read three books at bedtime.
- Old-school activities are always allowed: coloring books, finger paints, writing on the easel, chalk, etc.
Technology is great (heck, I’ve built my whole career around it) but I want my kids to explore the world beyond an iPad screen.
Have you noticed your kids are becoming more and more addicted to technology? What’s your solution?
Constant struggle in my house. I have the same problem as you, because I’d rather be at the computer writing than anything else, but I feel it’s SO important for kids to play outside. There comes a point in every day where I need to be outside for fresh air, but until then, I am just telling myself that it’s ok for me to work while they play–they are the kids, I’m the adult. I wouldn’t be outside if I was working at my “real” job, now would I? I did my time outside as a kid, now it’s their turn!
Technology its a miraculous thing but in my house it is an earned privileged … as an educator i am watching our youth become extremely dependent on it and i refuse to allow my daughter to be one of those children…. she will develop her public speaking skills, communication skills, social skills, academic skills, etc the old fashion way.
As i sat in the airport i watched a college student aged woman cry because her cellphone died, her charger was checked in her luggage, and she didn’t know anyones phone number to use a cellphone …. Really?!?!
I read papers written by students who can’t spell simple words (no spell check on paper) and also use text language to express themselves (sorry “cuz” is not okay in an essay), students can’t accomplish a simple interview because they lack personal interactions, etc etc.
Don’t get me wrong I LOVE my technology but kids need a foundation first.
Hey, Tara, instead of saying that an hour on the iPad means that the kids have to read three books at bedtime, how about reversing it? Tell them that if they read three books, they may have one hour on the iPad, up to one hour per day. That takes the stigma off reading books. It also starts them off on the idea of positive consequences. Anyway, good luck!
@Melissa – Hmm…the way I was thinking of it was that there needed to be a balance between books and electronics but I like your way of thinking. Either way, BOOKS ARE GOING TO BE READ!! LOL
If they see you and their dad reading, they’ll read, too. And I’m going to go waaaaay out on a limb and say that they do see that. 😀
You probably know about this, but maybe you don’t, and maybe one of your readers doesn’t. At the library, you can probably get a book for very young readers (and pre-readers) that comes bundled with a CD. If you have a spare PC around, you can use that PC to read the book to the child over and over and over and over and . . . It’s technology, it’s hard-copy book-reading, and it babysits a kid for a while. Win-win-win, as Michael said on The Office.
You’ve won my heart with quotes from The Office. Oh how I miss the early seasons!
Yay! I was hoping that somebody would enjoy that allusion! So glad it was you!
I think it’s great that you’re encouraging them to experience the world around them and not just what they can pull up in front of their eyes. I grew up reading so I LOVE the three book rule. I’m assuming you mean paper books and not ebooks lol. Or does it not matter the format as long as they are reading?
This is one of my biggest ongoing concerns with my daughter. Even now at 7 months her eyes light up when I look at something on my smartphone. I hope I can provide balance as she gets older but it’s going to be hard when my husband and I are so addicted to our own technology!