Is technology now a natural part of growing up?

We need to be careful what we mean by “technology”. We have always been keeping up with it – at least those who were interested. I see it as keeping pace with scientific and engineering developments – so in the past, young and old played with crystal sets, built radios, made mechanical devices with Meccano, read up on aeroplanes and built models – etc. In other words, those who were interested explored the nuts and bolts of technology. Being able to use an i-phone or look up information on a computer is using it as a tool, – if simply used to communicate,as a different form of library and to play games is using it only as a different medium. What it can do is to allow us all – children included – to access information we would otherwise have great difficulty finding, exploring this information and using it; this is where new technology is so valuable – but only to those who make the effort to use it constructively. It’s no different to when TV became widespread, and allowed those who wanted to, to idle their time away watching mindless programmes (it’s even worse now!).

I wish that modern technology had been available when I was a child. Adults who criticise kids for spending too much time with their gadgets often spend hours watching TV, films, sport or whatever their own interests are. 🙂

Like Malcolm, I grew up doing practical things and was fortunate to have very supportive parents who did not mind the barrage of questions. It would have been wonderful to have been able to use computers to explore everything that interested me.

I believe there is a lot of opportunity to make much more use of technology to integrate fun with learning at all ages.

Modern technology often helps rather than hinders interpersonal skills and my main concern is that it can be responsible for us not getting enough exercise, irrespective of whether we are young or old.

When I read this blog I felt pretty sick at the idea of 6 year old’s having iPads. There really is no need for it.

I have to admit my laptop broke down at the start of this week and for 3 days I could not do anything. I did feel lost without it, but I use it for my work, (no laptop = no income), i use it for my music, plus I use it as my TV too. So without it I really could not do anything.

But on the other hand my boyfriend is not really into all this tech stuff. He does not even have a smartphone. But a old Nokia instead, he doesn’t use social media which is strange as I am a twitter addict. I do find all this refreshing in a way, when we go on days out I am always checking my mobile, tweeting, facebooking etc and it would be nice if i could turn myself off from the online world every now and again.

Whilst I think a 6 year old is very lucky to have such an expensive gadget, and hopefully is going to look after it, whether they benefit from it depends upon how they are encouraged to use it. If they just play mindless games, then apart from getting familiar with some computer use it seems an expensive indulgence. If, however, they use it to access information, to use constructive software, then it can only benefit them. However, none of us should ever become dependent upon these devices – they have a habit of letting us down when they are most needed. I keep paper records of important information, save important files separately, but still feel deprived on the very rare occasions my internet goes down..

Kids should be made to amuse themselves for a period each day without technology .
Having said that, I had other kids to teach me games and amusements.
That may not be available today.

I would love to be a child again – only to avail of the wonderful technology available to me today. I would instinctively know how to use it all and not be afraid of what it can do. I thought having a calculator was wonderful in my youth but compared to the technology of today it was zero on the advancement scale. I was ecstatic watching a 20″ black and white TV in the days of two or three part time TV channels. Today’s youth can watch hundreds of channels round the clock on a little colour screen, on the bus, train or cafe or where ever they wish. Encyclopaedia Britannia the newspaper archive and your local library, all in a little plastic/metal box that you hold in one hand. It’s mind boggling!

I think parents must lay down rules about the amount of time their children spend on tablets, computers and electronic games. We had such rules about TV in our youth but it was easier to police then as we did not have TV’s in our rooms.