Tech free time for families

Technology creeping into more and more aspects of our lives has been an issue for me for a while. While I can’t deny the value of many of these gizmos and gadgets, I think that our increasing reliance on technology is degrading our personal relationships and killing our ability to communicate with other people. And by communicate, I mean actual face to face communication, taking a pen and putting it to paper, or even making a phone call.
Learning that Leap Frog is planning the release of the “Text and Learn”, a smart phone looking device aimed at toddlers, sent me over the edge. The Leap Frog website touts that “learning modes offer practice with letter matching, shape identification and QWERTY keyboard”. In this age where kids are already overscheduled, does a toddler really need to “exchange text messages with their puppy pal Scout, check Scout's planner to see what his week entails” as the product description states? To me, this toy represents two much larger issues with our current society.

First, it is an acceptable lesson of childhood for a child to learn that some things are not toys. Children do not need a toy phone to keep them from playing with their parent’s phone. Children need to be taught that the phone is not a toy. Many things will continue to literally or figuratively be out of reach and learning the coping skills to deal with that will serve children well throughout life. While I’ll readily admit that sometimes the easier parenting choice is tempting, I think that battles fought when children are young lay a strong foundation for later on.

Second, is how technology is eroding our relationships. Nowhere is this more important than within each family. So often when I see families out in public, at least one person is engaged not with the other family members, but with some gizmo. It goes for both parents and children and I think it sends the wrong message. It sends the message that you’re unwilling to give your full attention to the person you’re currently with or that you are waiting for a better offer or something more interesting to come along. What might parents learn if they talked with their children at the grocery store? How might a child feel to hit a great shot in the game only to look in the stands and see that their parent didn’t see because they were busy checking email. Do you really feel heard if during your entire conversation your spouse has their bluetooth ear piece on?

These gadgets have their place in the work world. I can even see their value in helping families keep in contact or organize their schedules. But there needs to be tech free family time. A lot of tech free time. Turn off your cell phone, leave your Blackberry at the door, turn off your Ipod, refrain from checking email, turn off the computers and TV, and truly focus on each other as individuals, as family members, as people who you truly care about.

We wont be getting a “Text & Learn”. Our children learn their letters by looking at books and reading street signs. They learn their colors by coloring and painting. And if they want to check our dog’s schedule, they’ll ask if they can take him in the backyard to play fetch.