Talking helps cure technology addiction
School is almost over, so I am planning activities to keep my kids entertained for the summer. If you are like me, you know that that is a daunting task because today’s children need to be entertained constantly.
Long gone are the lazy days of summer when kids simply went outside to explore and play with friends. Back then, kids rarely stayed inside because there was no reason to be inside. There were only three channels to watch on the TV and those channels featured boring soap operas, talk shows or news, unless of course, it was Saturday morning. Before cable and the Sony Walkman, the primary mode of entertainment was talking and listening. How wonderful it that?
Today’s Kids are wired for constant stimulation. They have a technology addiction to devices that stream entertainment directly into their always-on brains. Did you know, according to an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association poll of parents, that the average 8-year-old has three interactive tech devices, a smart phone, a tablet (iPad) and a gaming console. And when kids get tired of those things, they can easily find a TV in almost every room of the house. To make matters worse, they usually use their personal devices while they watch TV.
So how did kids get this technology addiction? I think that there are three main reasons.
- As parents, we used technology to pacify our kids when they were little. It made cooking a dinner easier. It made us feel less guilty about checking and responding to work email from home. It allowed us to rest our eyes for a few precious minutes. It allowed us to watch our favorite show. I know that I am guilty of this and as a speech-language pathologist, I should have known better.
- As role models, most parents have a technology addiction too. Email, Facebook, Pinterest, Linkedin, Recipes.com, YouTube, Candy Crush, Solitaire, On-line banking, Ebay, Amazon, the list goes on and on. We are distracted by technology which gives us less time to talk to our kids. When our kids do not have us to talk to at home, they turn to technology to satisfy their always-on brain.
- Finally, children have a need to conform and in this day and age using technology plays a big role in that. Technology gives kids the access they need for social interaction via social networks (Instagram, SnapChat, etc.) and social games (Xbox Live, Sony Playstation). Children, like adults, have a need to be connected to a group to feel worthy. Technology is that connection.
This summer, follow a few of the following ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) tips to manage your children’s tech time. But more importantly help your children find more constructive things to do that will really excite them and build their self-esteem. As you nurture these worthwhile non-tech activities, you will probably find that you are developing a better relationship with your child. Better relationships lead to more talking and the more that your child talks early on, the better they will communicate throughout their lives.
10 Tips to Manage Children’s Tech Time
Create tech-free times. Find at least one or two opportunities during the day—at the dinner table, for example—for everyone to disconnect. Mealtime is a prime opportunity for conversation. Make a commitment and have everyone check their devices at the kitchen door. Here’s a tip, ask everyone at the dinner table to talk about the best thing that happened to them today.
Resist overreliance on technology to pacify boredom. Fifty-five percent of parents worry that they rely on technology too much to keep their child entertained, according to the ASHA poll. Roughly half of parents say that they are using technology as a means to keep kids age 0–3 entertained. Remember that the best opportunities for conversation and learning are often found in situations that may be viewed as boring, such as a long car trip—particularly for the youngest children. While it may be tempting, try to resist the urge to immediately turn to these devices as a source of entertainment.
Don’t overestimate the value of educational apps. Children learn best simply through talking, conversing and reading. Technology is not the best way to teach, though it can reinforce and allow practice of skills under development.
Make tech use a group activity. While it is most often used on an individual basis, tech use can be turned into a group activity, while playing an online game have them talk about what they are doing!
Consider whether young kids really need their own devices. It is not uncommon for kids to have their own tablets or mp3 players. Many are designed and marketed specifically for kids. This may lead to more time spent alone with technology throughout the day. Instead, let them borrow your devices for a limited time. Use the features of the device to limit content to kid appropriate content.
Set daily time limits. Certain devices can be programmed by parents to shut off after a certain amount of time, but you can also make a child aware of the time limit and keep track yourself.
Be consistent in enforcing the parameters you set for tech use. ASHA’s poll found a majority of parents report setting limitations on their children’s tech use. However, the reality of their children’s tech use often doesn’t line up with the set restrictions, by parents’ own accounts. Moreover, adherence often seems to break down at ages 7 or 8 despite the rules parents say they set.
Always practice safe listening, especially when using ear buds or headphones. Misuse of this technology can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Even minor hearing loss takes a significant toll academically, socially, vocationally, and in other ways, so prevent the preventable. Teach kids to keep the volume down (a good guide is half volume) and take listening breaks. Read Noise Induced Hearing Loss in Kids Up Dramatically.
Model the tech habits you want your kids to adopt. Practice what you preach when it comes to tech time and safe-listening habits.
Learn the signs of communication disorders. This is important for all parents, regardless of their children’s technology use. Early treatment can prevent or reverse many communication disorders. Parents should not wait to see if a child “outgrows” a suspected speech or hearing problem. If you have any question about your child’s speech or hearing, seek an assessment from a speech-language pathologist or audiologist. Learn more at http://IdentifytheSigns.org and https://www.StopOverdoseIL.org.
The Kidmunication Point
We know that over reliance on technology can lead to communication issues. We also know that technology is here to stay, in fact, it is going to be more and more integrated into everything we do. There’s no changing that and remember that kids need it to be a part of the group and technology is the connection. The point here is to curtail the use of technology not eliminate it. We need to make time for our kids to engage in meaningful non-tech activities and conversations every day. This is especially important early on when their communication skills are developing.
