My Kids Got Creative In Front of a Screen
Hello, Summertime!
We needed another screen like we needed more dog hair balls colonizing on the wood floor. So why did I accept the Droid Xyboard tablet from Verizon? Because it’s AWESOME, is why. That’s what my kids think, anyway. As for me, I’ve been curious how I’d use a tablet for a while and finding out for free–well, what’s not to like? Except that it was one more screen. I didn’t like that.
It’s been a challenge this summer keeping the kids busy. A few years ago I would have been frantic trying to keep my children safe and fed during the summer while I work. This year they could be self-sufficient, if I let them. However, the activities that are sufficient to entertain them are often not the most worthwhile. I catch myself late in the afternoons from behind my own screen wondering how many hours they have spent in front of a theirs.
Watching TV, playing Minecraft, texting, FaceTiming, and Temple Running.
But it’s hot outside, right? That’s my excuse? Work with me.
I want my children (who are we kidding, they’re teenagers) to have freedom from structure, but I want them to use at least some of their summer free time to be creative. However, seems whenever they’re given the choice, they choose a screen. Which is why I was surprised to find out that adding yet another screen to their inventory actually made them more creative instead of less.
As soon as we the device arrived, I made my 12- and 14-year-old try several learning applications. While they had some fun with 50 Languages, they promptly dismissed the rest of the apps as lame and replaced them with Angry Birds, Angry Birds Rio, and Angry Birds Space.
I’m sorry? What happened to SAT Vocab Prep?
Anyway, I figured I’d let them wallow in avian anger for a few days before I commandeered the tablet.
And then creativity set in.
I'm not even kidding, she made this. From scratch.
It started with the Magic Piano by Smule. The next day my daughter found sewing videos made my teenage girls. By the end of the day, she had designed and sewn a dress without a pattern. The next day, she and my son looked up the recipe for Panda Express’ orange chicken and made it. Did I mention they are twelve and fourteen?
Sure, we have a desktop, a laptop, and more phones than I can count, but something about this tablet sparked their desire to make and do things they hadn’t tried before. The only reason I can come up with is that the tablet is portable, but also big enough to watch demonstrations.
I’m still not sure how I will use the Droid Xyboard, but I’ve changed my mind about having another screen in the house. If only I could get this thing to do the laundry, I’d be set.
