“Screen time” is a topic that has confused me since I started hearing about it. More specifically, the fact that too much screen time is bad. Yes, I will grant you that sitting in front of a computer or tablet all day every day for kids can be a bad thing. I would posit, however, that it’s not nearly as bad as everyone is making out. What I find hilarious is the number of people who tell me that too much screen time is bad for their kids while holding onto their smartphones. The fact of the matter is that any of us working office jobs spend just as much time (if not more) in front of our screens.
1) They need to learn technology somehow – We live in a technological world. There’s no way of getting around that. I suppose you could join the Amish, but the culture shock would be a bit much for you and them. If you plan on continuing to live in this modern society, people must learn how to use, live with, and understand the technology we use. I am fortunate that I grew up in an era where personal technology was in its “toddler” stages, and existing online was definitely in its infancy. This meant that if you were generally careful, you could be online and do things relatively easily. Now, however, it’s much more regulated (and rightly so), and to be online and function in an online world requires a bit of training and practice. Part of this training is knowing what to do and what to avoid doing, but also having enough of a mind to know what’s real and what’s made up for entertainment value. The only way to learn this technology is by actually using it.
2) Blue Light glasses are the best – For those worried about kids messing up their eyes, there are blue light glasses that you can purchase for a relatively low cost. I have been using blue light glasses for years, and now that I’m wearing glasses more regularly, I have blue light filters in my regular glasses so that I can work at my computer for longer. If you find that working for a computer for a long time gives you headaches, I would highly advise giving blue light filtered glasses. They don’t have to be prescription, and you can find them online for relatively inexpensive.
3) It’s all about HOW they play – When I was a teenager, I started chatting with my friends on ICQ and then MSN messenger. Consequently, I was “talking on the phone” with my friends less. This is the evolution of technology, but this is also the evolution of how our society interacts. I have found my kids chatting with their friends online and playing various games together. I understand this as I have played video games with my friends online. There are so many different forums where people can interact with each other, and having those experiences are something that, in the future, will be more and more prevalent. Knowing how to access the online world and what to do and what not to do is essential. Also, if you have young children, you can set up their technology so that they can only access specific games which can be educational as well as fun.
I get that to a degree; technology can be addicting, and it’s something that I worry about for myself being someone who works in technology—currently, most of my hobbies involve non-tech things. I spend the whole day on screens doing my job. It’s nice to “be offline,” as it were. That being said, I know how to use my tech. Many people grew up without technology and have no idea how to use it properly. I feel like it’s essential to make sure that exposing kids to technology is vital because if they don’t know how to use it correctly, that will only compound the issue further on in life. I don’t just throw iPads at my kids and tell them to figure it out; I teach them how to use the technology, act and interact online, and give them lessons on how to use their technology correctly and effectively. If they have issues, they come and talk to me (or their mother), and we walk them through solving them. I think if we give our kids the ability to operate the tools we have now, they will be able to adapt those skills when the tools change. With the rate at which technology changes, it will be important for them to be able to adapt. If they can’t adapt, they will fall behind, hurting them in the long run. Technology is an integral part of our society, and we need to teach our kids to have a healthy relationship with it. That does mean using it regularly.
How do you feel about Screentime?
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