How is Technology Affecting our Family?

As a parent, sometimes it's hard to know how to handle technology in our own lives, yet alone the lives of our children. What are the benefits? What are the costs? When is it too much? There are no easy answers. And no one answer is right for everyone.

Some things to consider: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs and others who helped create major technological advances did not grow up in an electronics age. Colleges and corporations are reporting that many of the young people who have grown up in a tech-savvy world do not have the same level of emotional skills of those 10 or more years ago. Inappropriate use of electronics (sexting, cyber-bullying, posting of photos/videos that a child might later regret, etc.) is on the rise even at the elementary age level and developmentally, children are unable to comprehend long-term effects of digital footprints lasting forever. Research is being done on the addictive aspects of checking our electronics incessantly and obsessions with video games.

According to a study on media influence done by the Kaiser Family Foundation, 8-18-year-olds spend over seven hours a day using entertainment media. That's over 50 hours per week! And when they're involved with screen time they're not exercising, meeting with friends, talking with family or negotiating in-person relationships. Many are gaining weight, easily distracted and finding it hard to read the subtle signs in developing and maintaining relationships. In fact, they're often mentally absent when sitting with a group of friends or family.

And it's not only our kids. How many times have we pulled out our cell phones when having dinner to check that important email or text that just chimed in? And how many of us have sat in a restaurant with a companion who has "checked out" to tend to his electronic device? How much time is spent capturing a moment digitally versus experiencing what is taking place? Or investing energy documenting children's lives on social media versus investing in the relationship?

Often, parents tell us they feel technology is taking over their family and/or children's lives, but they don't know when enough is enough, or what they can do to control it. Since there is no perfect answer or specific line to draw, we suggest parents engage in one of the core principles our organization was founded on: be intentional.

  If you decide that it's time to limit your child's screen time, here are some options to consider:

·        Have a basket at the front door in which your kids can deposit their phones until homework is done and dinner is over.

·        Require that all electronics be turned in at bedtime so that there isn't the temptation to chat or play games instead of getting a good night's rest.

·        Keep TV's and computers in the public areas of your home.

·        Become computer literate in order to monitor usage and block inappropriate sites.

·        Bookmark your child's favorite sites to avoid "surfing".

·        Teach Internet safety, especially about never revealing personal information.

·        Talk about the pro's and con's of electronic interaction and how choices (impulsive or without considering long-term effects) can impact our lives.

·        Use this as a teaching opportunity to help your child learn to set limits, understand wants versus needs and develop self-control.

·        Make television or movie viewing a family event and talk about what you've watched and how it intersects with your family values.

·        Limit your own screen time and take every opportunity to engage your child in conversation.

- Sonia Kayastha

Natural Learning

                                                        

           Recently I came across a blog by famous and eminent actor turned social activist Nana Patekar which I thought everyone must read. Even make your child read as it is too good and realistic.

          The earlier generation/baby boomers worked like donkeys to get higher education and now the next generation has fallen to wits of the rat race.

          The expectations of today’s parents have mounted off to the height of Everest. They want their children to score 100% in all the exams, should be black belt holders, must be the experts in music or dance forms at the same time be rooted and be able to chant Shlokas in Sanskrit, they are quite fine even if their child is not able to understand the meaning of verses chanted by them.

         Of late, many schools have mushroomed who are giving false promises as a marketing gimmick that they can turn their child in to ALBERT EINSTEIN in making. When in reality Albert was a school dropout and never attended any school later.

          The schools have been launched by the investors and not by the educationist. The simple logic behind the same works on the simple economics demand and supply rule. Such schools have aptly recognised the deep desire of the parent community along with the fancy dreams which they have fostered for their children. They have increased the syllabus more than required. Children are not only carrying the burden of heavy bags but they are overburdened by the expectations of the parents and teachers, leading their life to real hell.

          Our honourable Prime Minister Mr.Modi addressed the students on the eve of Teacher’s day and he raised a question to them that how many of you sweat yourself out in play ground every day? Not single hand was raised. The reason is simple and obvious. These millennium babies are born and brought up in AC rooms. Their standard diet consists of chips and aerated drinks. The only games that they are aware of are the mobile games, video games, X box. They do not come in contact with the major five elements of the earth. They are oblivious of the things like playing with their friends getting hurt in  the process, the fun in loosing or winning the game, the lessons learnt in process.

            Before they cross the milestone of early five, most of them have the vision issues, either they become malnourished   or they start walking on the path of obesity. Who is to be blamed for? As the household kitchens started shrinking, the fast food era began. Instead of adding the vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates in the food the things like modified food starch, maltodextrin , hydrolysed corn gluten , disodium iodinate/ guanylate, yeast extract and hydrolyzed soy protein etc  got added.

             The specialty of such ingredients is that they stay in the stomach for longer time and absorb all the nutrients from the body . They literally stop the hormonal and biological growth of the child which has lead highest number of diabetic patients along with many other  diseases in early childhood in India.

Further, today’s generation is facing a stiff competition, education is not a means to attain knowledge, it is to perform better than the rest. Rabindranath Tagore put emphasis on naturalism, freedom from books and freedom to learner.

Once Tagore was sitting under the tree with few of his disciples in Shantiniketan .Three- four students were engrossed in reading  and rest were busy climbing the trees, trying to catch the butterflies , enjoying the fragrance of flowers while nature walk...

Suddenly a gentleman dropped there to meet Gurudev and raised a question,”Aren’t you worried about the children’s future who are playing instead of reading?”

Gurudev replied politely with a smile,”Of course I do, but not for the children who are playing,

For the children who are reading the books! They have matured way before their age acting like adults.

It was Tagore’s passion to teach the children ,not the business, as he used to enjoy being with them. But today’s scenario is totally changed and our life is revolving around the education , children run after gaining more and more knowledge, learning as many as art forms ,parents bet on them and then starts a race .In the process we forget to live our lives to the  fullest.

What is the learning for us as a Sanctamarian parents and teachers? We have started this process at Sanctamaria .Each of us cannot be Tagore but definitely started walking on the path that has laid for us  by Rabindranath Tagore.

What more can we contribute to make our children’s lives enjoyable and at the same time focus on their overall growth ? This is the thought we all should ponder upon..

- Ms. Pragati and Ms.Pradeepa