Carroll County Times Articles
Parents, Don't Fear Technology
by Josh Kohn – April 23, 2006
Technology and kids together can be a frightening subject. Parents today fear the internet, cell phones, video games and yes, even MP3 players (digital music players). Times have changed since we were kids. Remember when your parents would let you leave the house at 10 a.m. and didn't bat an eyelash unless you didn't show up for dinner that night? We had freedom, we learned from errors, slip-ups and fighting with our best friends. We survived, and learned morals, and how to treat other people with respect and dignity. Those moral lessons are still available; we just have to manage the opportunities for them differently.
Embrace Technology
Instead of fearing technology, we should embrace what it can offer. Our children are learning at an accelerated rate. They have the entire world at their fingertips. A typical middle school child will come home and get on the internet, message their friends, listen to music and talk on the phone, all at one time. The internet is a mind-boggling resource. You still need to know how to read to use it. You need to have computer skills to search it. You need more sophisticated comprehension ability to understand it. This is good. Yes, there are minuses, such as Internet predators, pornography and the like. But these types were around when we were kids. You know what my parents did? They sat us down and warned us about people that prey on kids and said, “Don't speak to strangers.” So we didn't. Parenting, it's a bold concept!
What About Cell Phones?
What's wrong with having a phone to let Mom and Dad know where you are? It teaches a kid the value of budgeting their time against the cost of the phone. You talk too much, the phone cuts off. If it gets in the way of school, it also gets taken away. It's simple. It's got to be better to keep in touch with your kid than to worry about where they are on Friday night.
Video Games Can Be a Touchy Subject
Video games are fun. But remember, “GAME” is in the title. If kids played baseball all day long and didn't worry about school, then their lives would be out of balance. If our kids played football all weekend, every weekend, it would get tiresome. Well, the same stands for video games. It's not particularly healthy from a cardiovascular standpoint, but it is fun. In moderation, video games are just as good as any other activity. It all comes down to parenting. Would you send your 9-year-old child to see the movie “Alien”? Of course not! Then why would you let him play games that could possibly scar him? You wouldn't. Just don't let them play the games that you don't approve. If you catch them playing something that you don't like: boom, computer restriction for a week. That hurts. They will remember.
I don't think I even need to get into the MP3 player thing. Remember when our grandparents thought rock-and-roll was bad for us? It's freedom to show expression. You can't deny that to a kid. Music is an important part of living. Sound does soothe the soul. Yes, the volume can hurt a kid's ears. But you know what? Tell them to turn it down. It's your job, you're the parent.
Taming Technology
Technology isn't the bad guy. It's definitely the good guy. We just need to tame it. It's what parents do. We helped invent it. History shows us that oftentimes creative solutions are seen as bad, but in the long run, they allow us to grow and prosper. It's okay to embrace technology. It's a good thing. Technology gave us tools. Come to think of it, aren't the internet and cell phone simply tools?
About the Author
Josh Kohn is the owner of Kohn Creative, a Westminster based marketing company. He is also a current member and past President of the Carroll Technology Council, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating businesses, government and residents about technology issues. Questions are welcomed and may be addressed in future articles. Email advisors@carrolltechcouncil.org or go to www.carrolltechcouncil.org for a list of Advisor categories.
