Fatherhood in a Technological World – Episode #9
Reflections and Insights: How things got to where they are for us…
In the video I explain some of how we introduced our children to technology.
Now here’s some details that may not be in the video.
Although there are times, we wished we never introduced the IPad to my son, the most practical change we would have made was a several month where we established rules and clear expectations of how it should be used. My son’s school has a “Digital Driver’s License Program” that they use for the school issues IPads and I think it’s a good idea go through a boot camp or sorts when it comes to kids handling technology. I’ll go into this more in the future.
The first month we bought an IPad a few years ago when he was around 8 years old, it just sat unused, that seems now like it was a blessing. We tried to keep the apps educational without the arcade type games. My kids also used the IPad to create animation films which is actually using the iPad more for its camera rather than its ability to search the internet. They did that for a awhile.
We were successful in staying with education Apps at first but we would socialize with friends and my son would talk to friends and get interested in some of the games he heard about. Broadening the access to the internet was a gradual process, at first, we did not use the Wi-Fi feature on the iPad and sometimes he would have to use a load top or desktop to access the internet.
Eventually we opened up the Wi-Fi on the iPad, but the problem is the iPad does not have Parental Controls where I can limit access by setting time limits, So much of the limits of access where and are purely physical removal and hiding it.
Accessing internet became a Pandora’s Box which lead to discoveries like Minecraft, World’s Hardest Game, Agario, Geometry Dash, Cookie Clicker and a multitude of You-Tube videos and, for better or for worse, the communities of people playing those games.
My daughter uses the iPad now also, but she seems more interested in reading, writing and drawing still.
This story is no where close to being over. Much of what I am learning nowadays as a parent is done in almost constant awareness of the influence technology and the internet is having on my children.
This article and reflection is no means an exhaustive review. Yes, my wife and I figure we could have always done something better to help the kids in developing other interests that would help balance their usage. I’ve seen how children can develop without much technology, and with notable success, but for whatever reason or limitation, we are where we are and you folks are tagging along.
CY
About Fatherhood in a Technological World
Fathers of young children in today’s modern society are facing unprecedented challenges with the wave of technology allowing ever easier access to the internet. The effect on your children has and will have a great influence on their growth. As a parent, you may be feeling the anxiety of having to confront the challenges of being at the end of the rail of the powerful forces driving technology into the laps and hands of your children.
Your work is cut out for you are a father. Even though popular culture doesn’t do well to herald the value of the leadership role of men in the form of fathers, let me tell you right now, being a father in this time and age has never been more important.
Click here to read the complete pilot blog article for FTW
Use what you find that may be helpful and share some of your own insights in my comments.
Tag along for the ride and let’s see if we can cover some common ground.
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Challen Yee
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