By Sarah Lesnar | NEXTSHARK
If you fall within the Gen-Y era like us, chances are you’ve given a bunch of thought as to how you would raise your own children in this day and age (assuming you don’t have children already). Especially with technology, so much has changed since our childhoods in the 90s. Here’s one question: Would you introduce the technological wonder/heroin that is the iPod and iPad to your kids?
Steve Jobs wouldn’t, and for good reason too.
In a Sunday article, New York Times reporter Nick Bilton said he once assumingly asked Jobs, “So your kids must love the iPad?”
Jobs responded:
“They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.”
Especially in Silicon Valley, there is actually a trend of tech execs and engineers who shield their kids from technology. They even send their kids to non-tech schools like the Waldorf School in Los Altos, where computers aren’t found anywhere because they only focus on hands-on learning.
There is a quote that was highlighted in The Times by Chris Anderson, CEO of 3D Robotics and a father of five. He explains what drives those who work in tech to keep it from their kids.
“My kids accuse me and my wife of being fascists and overly concerned about tech, and they say that none of their friends have the same rules… That’s because we have seen the dangers of technology firsthand. I’ve seen it in myself, I don’t want to see that happen to my kids.”
If our current addictions to our iPhones and other tech is any indication, we may be setting up our children for incomplete, handicapped lives devoid of imagination, creativity and wonder when we hook them onto technology at an early age. We were the last generation to play outside precisely because we didn’t have smartphones and laptops. We learned from movement, hands-on interaction, and we absorbed information through books and socialization with other humans as opposed to a Google search.
There is really a consequence for anything and everything…its just a matter of how we teach our children on how to embrace present technology and be aware of what they can learn from mother nature.
That’s his problem, it changes nothing
A Native American grandfather was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said, “I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is the loving, compassionate one.” The grandson asked him, “Which wolf will win the fight in your heart?” The grandfather answered: “The one I feed.”
Nancy Weisbuch Hyndman Judy Freidin Weisbuch no ipad ??
Yes.
…And he was a control freak to boot.
Devon cousins .. The inventor wouldn’t let his kids play with them .. That speaks volumes
Wesley Harris III
Point on. And imagine 30 years down the road when Artificial Intelligence meets Advanced robotics. And no one has a job because the robots are doing everything! It’s coming. Steve Wozniak (co founder of Apple), Bill Gates, Elon Musk (PayPal and Tesla Motors), physicist Stephen Hawking and others see the same future…and worry about it…
I’m a secondary teacher ! I see first the hand the problems of the cell phone and iPads! Yes they are good tools if used properly, but most of the students take advantage of their use in the classroom! We used to be able to collect them as they entered the room. We can’t now; we just have to keep prompting them to stop texting, stop playing ,stop wasting time, it’s a real problem with over 50%! They can’t stay focused . They Claim they are researching or using a translator, when they are not! It’s better in the elementary levels. We hand them out for specific assignments for research or power presentations, etc., but they too get side tracked if not monitors closely.
Thank goodness my own children do not allow my grandchildren Devices yet! They are 5 6 and 8 10
Two younger ones are in Waldorf, where it’s a holistic natural hands on , approach to education! The older ones are In French Immersion. They all love to read books dance sing do drama, gymnastics, play piano, violin and guitar.
They create amazing plays write interesting stories and have great imaginations!
I am noticing the students who are monitored on technology have shorter attention spans and have less energy. Yes they are very savvy , they know how to do more than me and I have taken workshops on new programs! At first I thought my grandchildren were missing out and would fall behind, but no …….somehow they pick up so quickly without the extra time other kids spend playing games ! Now I. TotLly convinced children do not need to have personal devices in their formative years….just like they don’t need tv!