So true, all of this. I wonder how much difference there is between urban children and rural children. Satellites and high-speed cable have connected people everywhere, but in some places, children still get outside to be with animals, participating with their care as well as playing with them. Do urban kids have the same opportunities without the constant guidance of trained adults? It seems the free-range play disappeared in about the 80s when activities and sports programs were implemented to keep children engaged and safe.
Ray Bradbury wrote about this kind of life for kids back in the 1920-30s. His book, Fahrenheit 451, written over 60 years ago, includes interactive wall-sized screens. The main character was a fireman, but he burned books instead of putting out fires. The ending led him to a place where the book people lived. Each person memorized a book and constantly recited it. The book became their identity.
It's very interesting what you tell and gives food for thought. To tell you the truth, I heard some psychologists talking about this. Unstructured (free) play, is much more suitable for children's cognitive development. When they are completely supervised by adults, their brain stimulation is much lower, since they have no adult limitations, everything is play and exploration among them.
Decades ago, I worked in a daycare center where I opened the place at 6 a.m. and the Director and other workers arrived about 8 or 9. Those hours, I let the kids play in whatever fashion they wished with the toys inside. Later they would go outside with all of us sitting around monitoring loosely all the free-play games they would devise. Not only was it good for the kids, we didn't have to work so hard figuring out things for them to do.
Now many children do not find any type of activity stimulating or engaging because of the habituation they suffer from being exposed to screens. When you get used to that level of speed of changes, colors and sounds, everything else seems slow and dull.
That's why it's called "hot" media, as opposed to "cold" media, which is reading, writing, doing anything engaging the body or creative/cognitive mind. And yes, it damages the ability to engage in those physical activities.
hi alvaro: another insightful piece. i remember reading plato's allegory of the cave, in high school. the slaves were raised in the cave seeing the shadows of real objects. when they escaped the cave, they could not cope with the reality they saw outside, in the sunlight, and returned to the cave. it's a powerful allegory. linking that allegory to today's screen-time is equally meaningful and apt, i agree. thanks for this excellent essay. keep going. ur fan, j.
That's an impressive allegory Plato's. A similar thing is happening today with the screen. I find it amazing how we are living in a more and more digital world but we are still uneducated about the digital world. Every kid has a phone but none of them were educated to use that tool.
A tool with an enormous potential, both for good and for evil...
I'm glad you liked it, it's a very topical issue that we must learn to manage. We spend more and more time in digital environments, but no one has taught us how to use them. In fact, young people have in their hands a powerful tool, both for good and for evil, we must give a digital education. Today this issue is completely ignored.
I have talked to many parents who do not know what to do about their kids' addiction to video games, phones, and tablets. Some limit their use, others don't allow them to use them at all, but still, the kids have a high desire for them. I noticed it with my niece and nephew; even though their mother limits their use, they find ways to have access. I appreciate you writing about this subject.
Video games are good and bad, like everything that is not used properly. Logically, they are an entertainment that can be very beneficial at an intellectual level, because of the mental exercise they provide. The problem, as with almost everything in life, is their misuse or excessive use. The problem is that they are too attractive and end up taking too many hours away from other things such as physical exercise or face-to-face socializing.
The role of parents would be to balance these aspects. It's not easy, really.
So true, all of this. I wonder how much difference there is between urban children and rural children. Satellites and high-speed cable have connected people everywhere, but in some places, children still get outside to be with animals, participating with their care as well as playing with them. Do urban kids have the same opportunities without the constant guidance of trained adults? It seems the free-range play disappeared in about the 80s when activities and sports programs were implemented to keep children engaged and safe.
Ray Bradbury wrote about this kind of life for kids back in the 1920-30s. His book, Fahrenheit 451, written over 60 years ago, includes interactive wall-sized screens. The main character was a fireman, but he burned books instead of putting out fires. The ending led him to a place where the book people lived. Each person memorized a book and constantly recited it. The book became their identity.
Hi Sue! :)
It's very interesting what you tell and gives food for thought. To tell you the truth, I heard some psychologists talking about this. Unstructured (free) play, is much more suitable for children's cognitive development. When they are completely supervised by adults, their brain stimulation is much lower, since they have no adult limitations, everything is play and exploration among them.
Decades ago, I worked in a daycare center where I opened the place at 6 a.m. and the Director and other workers arrived about 8 or 9. Those hours, I let the kids play in whatever fashion they wished with the toys inside. Later they would go outside with all of us sitting around monitoring loosely all the free-play games they would devise. Not only was it good for the kids, we didn't have to work so hard figuring out things for them to do.
Now many children do not find any type of activity stimulating or engaging because of the habituation they suffer from being exposed to screens. When you get used to that level of speed of changes, colors and sounds, everything else seems slow and dull.
That's why it's called "hot" media, as opposed to "cold" media, which is reading, writing, doing anything engaging the body or creative/cognitive mind. And yes, it damages the ability to engage in those physical activities.
Oh, right!
We don't have those terms “hot” and “cold” in Spanish, but they seem very accurate for this, actually.
hi alvaro: another insightful piece. i remember reading plato's allegory of the cave, in high school. the slaves were raised in the cave seeing the shadows of real objects. when they escaped the cave, they could not cope with the reality they saw outside, in the sunlight, and returned to the cave. it's a powerful allegory. linking that allegory to today's screen-time is equally meaningful and apt, i agree. thanks for this excellent essay. keep going. ur fan, j.
Hello JaCee! :)
That's an impressive allegory Plato's. A similar thing is happening today with the screen. I find it amazing how we are living in a more and more digital world but we are still uneducated about the digital world. Every kid has a phone but none of them were educated to use that tool.
A tool with an enormous potential, both for good and for evil...
This is a good read! Spot on!
Hi Raquel! :)
I'm glad you liked it, it's a very topical issue that we must learn to manage. We spend more and more time in digital environments, but no one has taught us how to use them. In fact, young people have in their hands a powerful tool, both for good and for evil, we must give a digital education. Today this issue is completely ignored.
I have talked to many parents who do not know what to do about their kids' addiction to video games, phones, and tablets. Some limit their use, others don't allow them to use them at all, but still, the kids have a high desire for them. I noticed it with my niece and nephew; even though their mother limits their use, they find ways to have access. I appreciate you writing about this subject.
Hello, Raquel! :)
Video games are good and bad, like everything that is not used properly. Logically, they are an entertainment that can be very beneficial at an intellectual level, because of the mental exercise they provide. The problem, as with almost everything in life, is their misuse or excessive use. The problem is that they are too attractive and end up taking too many hours away from other things such as physical exercise or face-to-face socializing.
The role of parents would be to balance these aspects. It's not easy, really.