Today in this plugged in hi-tech overload world that we live in, which is now an extremely accessible industrialized technological culture, this may distort the perception of the real world to our children growing up in this techno age.
College or high school students are now walking into the classrooms completely plugged into their mobile phones or their Ipods, and unless these faculties have vigilant rules, they’ll instantly and constantly check their Facebook accounts, their e-mail and their text messages while during class. Even in remote once sacred places such as church, there are teens with their forearms moving away and a smile which suddenly comes to their faces because they’re sending out a quick text during mass.
Recent research has has revealed what the long and the short term effects are of these constant and convenient electronic distractions. There are psychologists who has indicated that University students in particular who are constantly on Facebook actually have lower grades, and are usually more distracted and moody, while recording more sick days than do their non tech peers.
Various studies have also shown excessive usage of the various screen technologies such as computers, digital TV, smartphone and tablet screens while on the Internet contributes to the potential of damaging the development of the child’s brains.
Teaching Our Children Tech
So how can we help along with teach our children to navigate a lot more smarter through this massively fast paced high technology world. It’s advised by the various educators that parents should at the very least place time limits on their kid’s screen time both on the Internet and TV, while encouraging them to read and exercise more by playing outside and doing outdoor exploration activities.
This may be quite obvious but, there’s also been scientific backing from family support and development professionals who has conducted the latest research when it comes to brain development, as well as positive child psychology, helping parents to develop successful strategies, all advise that this is becoming a problem epidemic.
The massive overload of information which is created by this busy tech society, most parents are becoming confused regarding what the best steps to take is for their children. It may be necessary to take advice from the professional parental coaches who advises and supports these parents, helping families as well as parents to manage and control today’s media onslaught.
In this easy to access media culture, children often become quickly distracted and overstimulated. Too much of this stimulation takes away the child’s capacity for self introspection, this resulting in defiant or disobedient children. These are the children who are yet to have acquired or established an “interior” life.
Without children having the time and space to be able to view their inner self and develop, as well as create and then craft an interior life, children will generally become too emotionally reactive, while being unable to self-regulate themselves.
Developing An “Interior” Life
There was a recent study on two 10 year old girls, both who had different contrasting interior lives who were evaluated. The first girl routinely spends up to 5 hours every day just watching television. As a result, she has a hard time sitting still, will become impatient while doing her homework and can’t get answers to questions very quickly. She is also a marginal student in school.
The other girl is limited to less than 1 hour per day of TV. She has a bedroom which is filled with books as well as art supplies. She enjoys drawing pictures after school, and is also working on a sewing project with her mother. Unlike the first girl, she’s doing academically well in school while being able to fully concentrate while doing her homework with limited help from her parents. The second child is an example of someone who has cultivated an interior life.
We’re also able to develop a strong interior life for our children or ourselves by just taking the time to reflect on a daily basis. We can do this by taking walks, or going jogging, giving ourselves the much deserved breaks and quiet time, allowing us to collect ourselves.
We’re able to help our children develop their interior lives as well, this by keeping the TV or the Internet off unless someone is watching or using them. We can encourage our children to create a special place for their “quiet thinking,” while reinforcing them to taking the time to think and solve issues by themselves.
In this busy media culture, one that is growing exponentially, our most essential resources still resides within us, our innate ability to be able to reflect, communicate when connecting with ourselves, resulting in creating healthier lives for ourselves as well as our children.