Technology and kiddos

Back in January, I wrote a blog post entitled: "Why my kids won't be on technology in public." 

I have found some additional blog posts which I have really enjoyed that sort of "back up" what I feel about technology.

• The Digital Gap Between Rich and Poor Kids is Not What We Expected NEW!!!
• A Letter to My Boys (The Real Reason I Say No to Electronics) I thought this article was fantastic in reiterating my feelings.
• "10 reasons why handheld  devices should be banned for children under the age of 12." While I think banning these devices is extreme and fails to allow parents to make choices for their own child, I do think their reasons for wanting these to be banned is good to review. 
• Steve Jobs was a low-tech parent. I find it very interesting that Steve Jobs of all people had kids who didn't use the iPad. Really makes you think. 
• The Last Generation of Kids That Played Outside If the inventors of current technology played outside, what will current children invent?
• Parents don't ask me about screens. But this is what I'd say if they did. A pediatrician provides concrete tips for amount and quality of screen time.
• What we Learned Being TV free. While we do use Netflix and watch videos, we don't have a regular TV in our house and don't plan to get one. Here is an article that backs up what we feel about TV. 
• Limiting Children's Screen Time Linked to Better Cognition

And some articles discussing how technology can be used appropriately:

• Using Educational Apps to Enhance your Child's Education

I want to make it clear that I do not think kids should not use electronics. My kids definitely use them in limited fashion and appropriately. I had a friend tell me that electronics were "in her tool bag" and I really liked how she put that. It is one tool that you can use for your children, but it shouldn't make up the entirety of their entertainment.

I also wanted to start a separate discussion on the internet  and my children. Here are some articles I am compiling. JB and I have carried things even farther in the time since I wrote this piece. We do not plan on allowing our children access to the Internet unsupervised for quite a number of years (possibly 18). I have heard parents tell me this is extreme. I get that, and I don't disagree. I also know I may not be able to do what I want to do now. I get that too. But for now, that is my plan. I think the stakes are way too high. I understand that kids who are in school are forced to have devices much more often than not. I do not disagree that we are able to do this more because we are homschooling.

How extreme porn has nearly doubled the number of child-on-child sex crimes.