Modern technologies have absorbed the rest of our lives and have become a facilitation of work, learning, and variety of games and free time – ours and our children. Internet and television are the most powerful channels of information flow and access is now very easy. Its availability has revolutionized us, and although we are aware of it, we often say enough! Common sense tells us that there are other forms of spending free time.
How do your children spend their time?
• Once he has shut down the computer, he surfs the Internet on his smartphone,
• Tablet is good when they’re bored in the car,
• In free time, it’s time for TV, maybe Playstation or Xbox?
• On the hand – in case of a smartwatch,
• Mp3 works well in your ears.
Commonly and sensibly, we must be able to detach children from the abovementioned novelties and technological gadgets at certain times of the day and circumstances. Although it can be quite difficult. What can we do in this? There are some rules below how to detach your child from technology.
1. Give your child time – it’s priceless. Just yes, you can distract him from technology.
◦ Why? – The child demands attention, if you focus on it, it will feel important. Sit next to, be with your child, get interested in what he/she did today, learn what, learn about little things and join in with his fun, even the multimedia one, and soon you will change it to another one.
2. Bet on activity and fun! Children love it! Walk, bike, rollerblading, or maybe fun in the wild west or the ball of princesses?
◦ That’s it! Feel like a child and join the strangest games that bring you closer. The child will certainly choose the perspective of common madness rather than boring and static watching cartoons.
3. Show your joy from the fact that you spend time with your child!
◦ The child senses insincerity and appreciates authentic manifestations of behavior. Just allow yourself to spend time with your child. A pile of laundry, a two-course dinner with an appetizer and documentation files will wait for 30 minutes and certainly the world will not collapse. The joy of shared moments is the greatest happiness for the child.
4. Talk! As much as possible, honestly and truly – simply.
◦ Conversation is a daily close meeting. Discuss on various topics, ask about your child’s opinions in various areas and matters.
5. Teach the child that time spent together is priceless.
◦ This is the most valuable thing you can give your child – your time. Let the child see that on a free Saturday, you prefer to rolerskate with him or go for a picnic with the whole family, instead of spending the afternoon alone in a shopping mall.
6. Challenge? A day without new technologies?
◦ Children enjoy such experiments but we have to play with them.
◦ A family trip with phones off, no computers, tablets and TV can be a fantastic experience.
7. Bet on the family and set a good example! Do not expect changes if you cannot detach yourself from the screen and the phone or TV.
◦ No matter what you are working on, your child will follow your example. Another season of your favorite series? Hours spent in front of the TV screen, we teach that our children.
8. Put the child in the role of an expert in technological innovations. Show him your appreciation as part of positive actions made with the use of a computer.
◦ Praise the choice of a television program or good production – give your child good directions. It will be information for the child, in which directions it is worth moving on the level of new technologies, and for you the opportunity to learn about this world from the inside. If you appreciate the effort put in it, your child will certainly invite you again.
9. Everything is for people, but moderation and common sense are useful always and everywhere.
We will appreciate the fact that our children grow up in the 21st century, full of technological novelties, extra gadgets and great devices. Let’s not forget, however, what is family warmth, love and closeness and the warmth of everyday life, which we cannot find on the screens of any devices available today. If we are afraid of a competitor and cannot detach the child from modern technologies, let us try to implement the principle – more ourselves. Even today give your child something more valuable than the media offer – time, attention, interest, warmth and love. The child will always choose what is closer to him.
Bibliography: Myśliwiec K. (2014), Współczesne technologie informacyjne źródłem przemian zintegrowanej edukacji wczesnoszkolnej [w:] Edukacja – technika – informatyka, red. W. Walat, W. Lib, Rzeszów. Uniwersytet Rzeszowski.
Jegier A. (2016), Czas wolny małych dzieci w świecie realnym i wirtualnym. Engram