What Technology Can’t Teach Our Kids

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What Technology Can’t Teach Our Kids

 

Technology is practically a part of every facet of life these days—we use it to wake up, get the news, drive our cars, browse online, and even cook. For our children, technology is also commonplace.

From “smart classrooms” to the latest video game console, technology is perhaps even more intertwined in their lives than it is ours. Despite the overabundance of technology, there are still many things our children cannot learn from a computer or smartphone.

Raising Kids in a Digital Era

With technology practically everywhere, it’s important to know how and when to limit technology’s presence in your child’s life.

There’s no one right way to find a balance for your child’s technology usage—it is something that requires observation and time.

Do you know how to spot the signs of unhealthy tech usage in a child? Some of those signs can include:

  • Complaining of being bored or unhappy when they don’t have access to technology
  • Tantrum or resistance to screen time limits
  • Screen time that interferes with sleep, school and face-to-face communication

If these signs are being displayed by your child, it is probably time to create some healthier technology boundaries.

What Technology Can’t Teach

Despite the many benefits of technology, there are some drawbacks to too much technology in a child’s life.

Some of those drawbacks include:

  • Disturbed sleep patterns and insomnia
  • Slower development in social and life skills
  • Decrease in physical health, including weight gain
  • Damage to the development of key relationships
  • Problems with self-confidence/anxiety issues

It is the many social and emotional interactions that children need to learn that technology cannot teach. These include how to interact with their peers and adults, understanding their own emotional health, and things like confidence.

Coping skills aren’t being taught through technology, nor are the aspects of healthy expectations of one’s self. This is why human interaction, including lessons from parents and outside sources, are still a vital part of a child’s upbringing.  It is through face-to-face interaction that children learn important skills, such as communicating, being aware of others’ feelings and knowing how to relate to those with different opinions.

Many life skills still must be learned the “old-fashioned way,” through human interaction and practice. Drama Kids International is proud to provide drama programs that get children away from the screens and focused on interacting with those around them.  For more information about Drama Kids summer camps and school year programs, visit your local Drama Kids website by clicking here, and select the “Class Schedule” option at the top of the page.

15 Ideas for the Next Time You Hear “I’m Bored”

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“I’m bored.”

Every parent’s nightmare phrase, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got some great ideas that can keep those words from exiting your child’s mouth quite so frequently!

Battling Boredom

When you hear your kids mention being bored, take a moment to have them think about the following things:

  • Have you been creative?
  • Have you played outside?
  • Have you read a book?
  • Have you exercised for 20 minutes?
  • Have you done something helpful?

An easy way to remember these is through the acronym BORED: been creative, outside play, read a book, exercised, done something helpful.

After your kids have thought about these aspects, they may just find that they’re not bored after all or could find something new to occupy their time.

If the feeling of boredom persists, there are plenty of ways you can help your children combat their feelings of boredom.

Here are 15 ideas that can help eliminate boredom at home for your kids while inspiring physical activity or creativity:

  1. Go on a family bike ride.
  2. Have them help wash the car or help with some other “grownup” chores.
  3. Have a dance party.
  4. Make an obstacle course in the backyard.
  5. Write a story.
  6. Put on a play.
  7. Create a gratitude or vision board.
  8. Put together a time capsule.
  9. Bake tasty treats.
  10. Create some snack art.
  11. Draw chalk murals outside.
  12. Go on a scavenger hunt.
  13. Try a YouTube art challenge.
  14. Collect and paint rocks.
  15. Write a letter to a grandparent.

When Boredom Is a Good Thing

Remember, boredom isn’t always a negative thing for kids and can actually help them in many ways.

Being bored helps children:

  • Develop their sense of identity
  • Foster creativity
  • Discover life passions
  • Learn time management
  • Get more physical activity
  • Form peer relationships
  • Develop problem-solving skills

Boredom can help children become more content, as a life that is too full of excitement can become exhausting and lead to the need for more and more stimuli. Boredom can also serve as a motivator for our children, inspiring them to think outside of the box to come up with ideas to bust the “boring.”

A bored child can be a less than ideal situation for any parent, but don’t forget to look at both sides of the coin. If boredom remains a common theme, consider enrolling your child in one of Drama Kids International’s exciting and educational drama programs!