How Kids Use Technology At Home

Story Reads: 4,023

It’s no secret that we are raising our children in an environment rich with technology. Our sons and daughters are the first generation that can’t recall a time before the Internet, smartphones, and wireless technology. Inevitably, they are growing up in a world brimming with tablets, cell phones, smart watches, computers, and more. While this influx of devices and gadgets make our day-to-day lives easier, we do need to acknowledge there might be a dark side lurking behind all of this connectivity.

According to Time, a third of our kids under the age of one have used our devices and when they reach the age of two, most of them have already used mobile devices. And they are not the only kids affected. An article hailing from CNN, noted that our older boys and girls spend about six hours consuming media in some form everyday. That statistic is eye opening, but we also need to consider that our teens spend an average of nine hours looking at a screen on a daily basis. That is more than a third of their day!

With numbers like those, it should come as no surprise that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends we begin limiting the amount of screen time our sons and daughters are allowed. Children need time to interact with others, manipulate their environment, play, read, and explore the world around them to help develop critical emotional and cognitive skills. These interactions lay the proper foundation for all learning and growing to come. These moments can impact a child’s vocabulary, development, ability to thrive, and so much more.

We know that technology does have a time and place, but finding a healthy balance with the screens in our lives is easier said than done. Thankfully, we do have hope. For more information and tips for helping kids safely use technology in our homes, please read the following infographic from the tech savvy minds at TeenSafe:

About the Author: Scott Reddler is an active software developer, water sports fan, and a loving and enthusiastic father of three. He uses his knowledge of new technology to understand how social media and apps are changing the parenting landscape. He enjoys taking his children out for boat rides and exploring his lovely state of Florida.

Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash