A Sign of the Times...

Morning!!

Before I get on my technology rant, I just want to say that I DO in fact like and enjoy computers, Ipods, Ipads, and of course...my KINDLE.

But I do have to wonder what all this access to and use is doing to children. They're now part of the "Touch Screen Generation". There is so much education available at their fingertips. But I have to say, it really irks me when my kiddo has a friend over and they end up just sitting next to each other on their Ipod Touches.
PS that doesn't fly in my house.
You come over to my house to play, you PLAY.

Then I saw this article at MailOnline:
Survey says eight out of ten parents restrict gadget use as punishmentOn average, children spend nearly two hours a day on favorite gadgetAnd then this article iPad Tantrum Gets Family Thrown Off Plane
(all because someone took the Ipad away)

I confess, I have used restriction of my kiddo's electronic use as a punishment. And have enforced TWO electronic free days in our house (WED and SUN) for about a year.
Actually, I thought it was kind of sad that I even had to.

Now that she's getting older, I'm concerned with the access she has to YouTube and Safari. Not because I don't trust to her but because of what she might accidentally see. So I'm looking into safe browsers now.

Fortunately, I am in a neighborhood with lots of kids and they do spend a lot of time playing jailbreak, skateboarding, and being outside. THANK GOODNESS. 

However, kiddo just had a sleepover this past weekend, and I had to confiscate all the electronics everyone brought over because it was causing nothing but havoc.

Once I did that, I suggested they play a game and then peace and laughter came into the house once again as they all settled in with some Sponge Bob Monopoly. :)
Whew.

But this is what my kitchen counter looked like when I took away all their junk:


TWO Ipads and THREE Ipod Touches. And there were only four kids.

A sign of the times. :(

Do you see electronic use as a problem for kids today? What steps do you take to monitor and control it?



** Also wanted to remind people that my giveaway for Kissing Kendall is still on and running thru this Thursday over at Write4Two.