Technology- The New Babysitter

The thing that has always bothered me about a TV/Video being on in a room is the mesmerizing effect it has on both children and adults. Notice that there can be a room full of people talking and spending time with one another, enjoying one another’s company and in a matter of minutes, one-by-one, the people get sucked into the TV’s trance. A social gathering quickly becomes a room full of people who are now engaging in disjointed conversations because they are now half-watching, half talking.

Regarding the real discussion point, Video babysitting, I feel that children who are constantly, visually stimulated by TV, DVD’s and Computers will have problems focusing later in a learning environment. Imagine a real live teacher, standing in front of the room, attempting to relay a concept to a room full of over-stimulated children. How is this teacher going to be able to compete for their attention? She will not be able to be as enthralling as the DVD player.

Thankfully, while some children are relegated to the living room/bedroom to be entranced by the TV, there are many children who thrive on social interaction and actual hands-on activities. These children will be able to broaden their mind by creating new pathways in the brain instead of allowing the TV to think for them.

I went to breakfast the other day and saw a man with his two kids. He was on his cell phone, one kid had a Nintendo DS and the other had an iPod. They sat there like that until the food came. Then they ate in silence while the dad read the paper. He paid their check and they left. So for about forty minutes, none of them spoke. It was so weird to watch. It weird to think you can be sitting at the same table with people yet be socially alone.

The most important thing we as individuals and parents need to do is to be a guardian for our children. The mind is a gateway. What we allow into our children’s mind is what our children become: attitudes are formed, feelings are created and behavior is affected (due to children modeling behaviors seen on TV).

I personally love technology and all that comes with it. It is important for us to remember that with technology comes responsibility. Consider this analogy: Medicine when taken correctly can aide in the healing of the body even though there may be some side-effects. If more than the recommended dosage is taken, there can be a risk of an overdose- the same with technology. Technology can assist us with many tasks and make our lives easier and more enjoyable, but if we indulge too much we can become dependant and socially debilitated.

You know the old adage, “Too much of a good thing……”