The Electronic Babysitter

When both my kids were younger (around 7 and 8 years old) they were obsessed with video games. But there was no one to blame besides myself, right? I mean heck, I’m the one that bought them the games and console. Around this time is when I started to reap the consequences of giving in to the “technology tantrums.” You know, when your child throws a fit until you finally hand over your phone in hopes of getting them to be quiet?

While it is true that technology has helped the human civilization take a few steps forward, it is also severely crippling the next generation and I had first class tickets to witnessing its downfall. At first the video games seemed convenient. Wanting some time alone to enjoy my cup of coffee? – Go play on your X-Box. Tired of hearing “mommy!” over and over and over? – Here’s a new Nintendo DS game. Horrible, isn’t it? And most of us as parents are guilty of it. I knew about some of the negative side effects (sleep deprivation, impaired socializing skills, etc.) of too much screen time at that age, but it was just so convenient to have that electronic babysitter at my disposal whenever I needed it. We know it is wrong, yet we still do it.

Eventually, it came to the point where that was all they wanted to do. They did not want to go to the park anymore. They did not want to go out for ice cream when we had it in the freezer (enabling them to eat and play video games simultaneously). They were too busy “playing my game, mom” to look out the car window at whatever it was I was trying to point out to them. I had enough. No more electronics or video games until they regained their connection to the world outside of technology.

I made Liam learn how to play chess and to this day she beats me every time. Lanna spent her time sitting outside and drawing everything that popped into her head, and today she can draw like a beast. This lasted about two weeks and then they earned their video game time back – with limitations. What I had hoped to accomplish worked. They would rather put down the games and enjoy the world around them.

So next time you hand your child your phone or tablet try to remember - while it is nice having some peace and quiet, there is a price tag.

“Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master.” – Christian Lous Lange