Kids and Technology Introduction
Sometimes I allow my kiddos to eat lunch at a side table with small stools in the kitchen, instead of our usual dining room lunch routine. They love it. But the challenge is, my 2 and 4 year olds just don't sit still. Sure, antsy pants are expected at this age. But for some reason, lunching in the kitchen amplifies their fidgeting. Not to mention, there seem to be a lot more distractions (“Squirrel!”) in the kitchen.Anyway, one day I was encouraging my lovely antsy little children to finish their lunches. And I decided to play some music to help. And not just any music... I offered to play the Frozen soundtrack if they would agree to eat. They were game.So, I grabbed my phone and went straight to YouTube. I quickly found the soundtrack play list and tapped play. I was delighted that my plan seemed to be working.But then my kids started begging, "I want to watch. Can I see? Daddy, I want to see!" Of course, I should have expected this. But I didn't.Anyway, I briefly showed them the screen for a few seconds. Then I flipped the phone over and explained that we weren't doing screen time now. "Girls, it's lunchtime. Not screen time. We're just going to stream music." I told them.They were content. But more importantly, they were eating. They were eating their nutritious lunches instead of squirming around the kitchen.When their lunches were finished, "Fixer Upper" from Frozen was nearing its end. And, not surprisingly, their demands for video resumed.But this time, I gave in. Their bellies were full. And they hadn't had much screen time for the day. So I sat on the floor cuddling my girls. And together, we watched Sesame Street: Star S'Mores (Star Wars Parody)....I want to continue to share my experiences as a father integrating technology into my family’s lives. I hope you will share your own experiences as I delve into topics such as IP cams, allowing and limiting screen time, and using technology for education.Please share your comments or questions below.Thanks for stopping by!Paul Burnstein, AKA Gadget Guy MN
