Technology and Children

In the article, “A new era in PLAY” By Reed Karaim, we are informed that the way children are learning has changed. No longer are children receiving their knowledge from books. Why open a book when the book will read itself to you? Four years ago, when I got a cell phone, I was the lucky kid on the block. Now, it seems every kid has not only a cell phone, but they have a PlayStation, IPod, and access to a computer. According to Reed Karaim’s research, “The Entertainment Software Association reports that nearly a third of Americans who play computer and/or video games are under 18. The Pew Internet & American Lie Project says 93% of teenagers are one the Internet, A study of the cellphone industry found that up to 70% of 12- to 14-year-olds now have their own phones, as well as significant number of 5- to 9-year-olds.” What does a 10-year-old need with a phone? Somebody tell me please! Some may argue it is a way of contacting their parents. While this may be true, we have to wonder why payphones were created? I think today they just sit as a reminder of the past generation, because the generation of today has more phones then they know what to do with. Karaim’s research tells us, “According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study, American kids ages 8 to 18 average 44.5 hours per week in front of some kind of screen. The only thing they do more is sleep.” Many people are concerned about the activity… or lack of… that children are receiving. If a child watches 2 or more hours of TV a day, they are more likely to become obese and have weight problems later on in life. It’s a Friday night and sure people go out to the movies, but what would have previously been a board game night with my friends turned into playing the new video fade Rock Band. Video games and TV shows also teach children bad habits, such as aggression.
As the world around us is changing, we can’t avoid technology, we can’t raise out children in a cave. So, we have to learn how to be smart. Karaim reminds us to “Make judgments based on the material, the way you are using it and whether your child is ready for it.”