This is a plea to parents. We express concern at the way our children sink easily into the television. I know that my four-year-old does. We get worried about their interest in video or computer games and try to limit their exposure to violence in the digital media. Many of us try very hard to control our children’s media focus, but we neglect to do one thing. We forget to turn it off ourselves.
The latest trend? We text during the times when we could be hanging out with our children, focused instead on scrolling down a tiny screen. Either that or we talk on wireless headsets or on the cell. Yes, I know: we’ve all done it. If you have a cell phone, you push the stroller and you talk while your child is otherwise engaged. Talking on the phone is challenging when you have a small child, and you need to get the time in while you can. Communicating with others in general is challenging when you have a small child, and I understand the need to talk or the phone or text, at least sometimes I do.
However, I’m making a plea for connection too. How are our children going to learn about authentic human connections if we are always distracted by a screen, a pad, a pod, or a headset? I’m not saying that Facebook and Twitter and Linked In and all of these wonderful, glorious social media sites we have are not a valid way of communicating. However, next time you are with your child, try doing it the old fashioned way: stop and enjoy the ice cream or the tire swing or the walk in the park. That’s what is happening now, and since it’s getting so hard to simply be in the now without talking or texting about it, be a rebel. Unplug for a while, and just enjoy your day.
What do you think?