Imagination Vs Technology

It seems that everywhere we look these days, we are surrounded by technology.
None more so than our children.

What with Apple i-gadgets, Microsoft X-Boxes, and Sony PlayStation's being commonplace in almost every home, it is no wonder that our children are somewhat lacking in imagination. A generation of "imagineers" in Japan and America have already done the work for them.

I try to provide an informative and creative environment for my children to grow up in. They're certainly not devoid of technology, in fact we are all very much on the i-gadget bandwagon, with an iPad, iPod's, a PlayStation, and a laptop floating around the house. But I'm very lucky because while all of my children are good at using all of these products, they don't rely on them (yet!).
Generally they don't need the TV, or the numerous variations of technology that they have access to, to keep them amused or happy. They enjoy going to the park, and having picnics, riding their bikes, jumping on a trampoline, climbing the trees in the local woods, and skating.

I love that the kids are so low maintenance when it comes to days out. It seems an increasingly rare thing to have children who take great pleasure in the little things, like having a ladybird crawl across the palm of their hand or reading a good book at the library instead of being plugged in to the latest video game or sat sprawled out on the sofa in front of the TV.

It was lovely today to see them reject the insistent bleeping of incoming messages. Since my eldest daughters have discovered 'FaceTime' with their friends, there has been a constant stream of calls. Today however, these calls have been ignored by my children. Not because I have asked them to do so, but because they were happily playing board games together and did not want to be disturbed! Bill Gates and Steve Jobbs haven't taken them just yet!

My husband suggests this may be because our eldest children are girls, and computer games in particular are more likely to be adopted to addictive levels by boys, and that when our three year old son gets older, he will be kidnapped for days at a time by Football Manager and Call of Duty.
My husband has said that this is how much of his childhood was spent, but growing up in my house we didn't have access to computers until we were much older, so it feels alien to me to get sucked into a game or device to the point that you ignore everyone and everything around you.
I think subconsciously I work hard to keep the children's interest in things that are based "in the real world" as a result.

It's becoming increasingly difficult to remain 'screen free' because so much of everyday life is based around online information, virtual "communities", and social media. I'm not naive and I know that as they get older they will spend more and more time with technology because that's the world we all live, work and learn in these days. But I'm also hoping that if I can set the tone for them in their formative years and show them a world that doesn't exist through a screen, they'll look to return to that world themselves when they're old enough to make their own choices, and eventually, with their own children.

Are you for or against a technological family lifestyle?

I'd love to hear how you spent time with your family over Easter, especially as the summer holidays are fast approaching!

What will you be doing with your children?

Written by Kerry.