The iPod. A truly marvelous invention. Us adults seem to love the iPod, iPad, iPhone and other Apple products. What I have found is using my iPod while hanging with the little guy is a great way to interact.
He is intrigued by the colors and the light. What’s more, I can type a post and read to him as well. All on something that fits in the palm of my hand. Technologically speaking, we live in great times.
As always, I’m looking for new and interesting ways to interact with my little one. I’m rather disappointed in myself for not realizing the value of my iPod sooner.
As I type this, Little A is staring intently at the screen. Many people I know have said how useful a tool iPads are in teaching kids, playing games or simply just keeping them occupied when mommy or daddy needs to get something done. But, is there too much technology?
One concern I have is if we are becoming to technologically dependent when it comes to our kids. For decades, the television was, and still is, a babysitter and a teacher. Is if slowly being replaced by tablets and other mobile devices?
Only parents, especially us fathers, can prevent the technological babysitter. By no means am I anti- technology. I just believe parents should raise their kids. There is no app for that.
Tell me what you think about technology as the babysitter.
The Dad In Me 
Well, the temptation is surely always there to let the technology raise them. In some ways, though, I think that some of the modern technologies, where the (older) kids play games that cause them to have to plan, problem solve, and figure things out (and I’m not talking only about “educational” games) are actually better than when I grew up. All we did (as far as technology was concerned) was sit in front of the T.V. and watch old re-runs of ’60’s sitcoms or WWII era cartoons.
On the other hand, I think my generation was the last of the kids who used to go outside on their own almost every day, get together on our own with other neighborhood kids, and play for hours on end. But that’s another story.
I think you hit it right on the head when you say that dad’s need to be the gate-keepers here.
Nice post, Bill
Thanks Bill for the response. As a kid, I would be outside playing everything under the sun. Didn’t have to ask me twice. But I do remember slot of my friends gradually migrating to the video games and the TV. With such easy access to today’s tech, I hope the kids aren’t substituting the physical activity for a tablet. But, like everything else, the lesson starts at home.
Good question. I have a love/hate relationship with technology and largely the hate is fueled by my own ignorance. I feel that at younger ages (0-3) I will try to limit technology/child interfaces…but in order to allow my boys to develop the tech skills they need in this society, then I had better get them plugged in soon their after. I tried to tackle this same question in the following post, I references a few articles that might be ineresting:
http://familynomadic.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/how-do-you-raise-a-smart-safe-tech-savvy-child-answer-not-included/
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