On Twitter today, someone wrote, “9 year olds today have: Facebook, twitter, luxurious phones and ipods. When I was their age, I had a coloring book, crayons,? & imagination”. This comment saddened me because I believe it is up to us to decide how to parent our children. If a parent allows his/her child to be exposed to this type of technology, particularly at the age of 9, then yes, they might have a child who is a techno- head and who has not developed her creativity and mind to its fullest.
Here are some great alternative choices for your youngster!
1) Don’t allow your young child to have or play with an I-phone, I-pod, have a Facebook account (isn’t t an age limit to this anyway?), or Twitter. If this is not in their vocabulary, then they will not want it anyways.
2) If # 1 is not an option, seriously limit the amount of time on the devices. Maybe the child can earn time on them daily for doing chores and/or good behaviour.
3) Go for a family bike ride or other physical activities (e.g., family skating at the local arena, a walk, bowling, rollerblading, play ball or Frisbee or hockey outside)
4) Get outdoors!!!- If you have a yard, tell your child to go and play outside. Go on a nature walk and collect things.
5) Play a board game or cards. They can do it with friends or with you or with your whole family. We have family games nights at home!
6) Eat dinner together and engage in dialogue. This surely fosters creativity.
7) Do an art project together or suggest your hild do them alone.
8) Limit time on the TV and tell your child to “Go play”. Remember when your mom used to say this to you?