Just today I was at Legoland with my family. It shocked me the number of young kids that were staring at an iPod/iPhone while waiting in line for rides. We’re talking 4-5-year-olds.
To be fair, I don’t want to judge or assume. I’ve been around the mom block enough to know that there can be more going on than meets the eye. I have a couple of anxious kids, and I know sometimes there are situations that warrant undesirable solutions (ahem, screens). In fact, we let our 4-year-old use the iPad way more than I am happy about.
But, I think most would agree that both kids AND parents use screens more than what is beneficial and necessary.
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This technological world we live in, with information magically at our fingertips (not always good for this researcher mom who loves information!) can feel overwhelmingly difficult to navigate, especially when it comes to guiding our kids. And especially when we ourselves don’t have technology under control.
I’m always trying to find ways to tame the beast of technology in our home. And so, recently, I read (actually listened to) the book ‘The Tech-Wise Family’ by Andy Crouch.
I found ‘The Tech-Wise Family’ to be an enjoyable and engaging book that provided wonderful nuggets of wisdom. And it took a different perspective than I was expecting.
It wasn’t an anti-technology book, but rather focused on how to wisely implement technology in ways to make the relationships within our families stronger. The audio version was actually read by the author which made it feel more personal. It was a short “read” – about 4 hours long.
Since I listened to it on audiobook, I didn’t have the luxury of going back to the book to review it visually when I was done.
But, I did have the luxury of listening to it with my husband while we were on a really long car ride. So we were able to process it together when we were done. And we chatted about what things stuck out, or were our “take-aways”.
The Take-Aways or “Tips”
1. Create more than you consume.
OK, so that is really simplifying how Crouch phrased it in the book, but that’s what my brain remembers! Make the “hub” of your home a place where creativity can abound.
Ideas to make that happen include getting your electronic devices to the edges of the room (or out of the of room if possible), while keeping things that promote creativity front and center.
At our house, things that promote creativity include the piano, the kitchen (baking and cooking!), craft supplies, and building toys (legos, magnatiles, etc.)
2. Take Technology Sabbaths.
1 hour/day, 1 day/week, 1 week/year.
Now, I haven’t been doing this, but this take-away could have the largest impact on me and I hope to implement it well. We’re such a technology-saturated culture that we can’t even remember what it’s like to be without it.
I look forward to remembering what that’s like. 🙂
3. Save Technology for shared experiences.
I can’t remember exactly how Crouch put it in the book, but he talked about the difference between using technology in isolation vs. as a family. So basically, use technology to promote family relationships and connections.
If possible, when using technology, try to do so in family community. For me, that conjures up images of family movie nights or watching AFV or other videos that make us laugh together.
4. Keep devices as far from the bedroom as possible.
Okay, so I am totally guilty of this one. I love to scroll my phone before bed. Also, I DO use my phone as an alarm. But truly, I could use something else as an alarm.
Crouch basically states that your phone shouldn’t be the last thing you look at before bed nor the first thing in the morning. Can we say enslaved to the phone?!
I am guilty here, especially as I’m trying to grow my blog! But if my phone is not in my bedroom, I have no choice but to not look at it!
5. Know that boredom is good and necessary.
It is not healthy to be constantly entertained. I actually read this article today that expounds on this point so well.
From the article:
“Of course, it’s not really the boredom itself that’s important; it’s what we do with it. When you reach your breaking point, boredom teaches you to respond constructively, to make something happen for yourself. But unless we are faced with a steady diet of stultifying boredom, we never learn how.”
As with anything you don’t want to become so legalistic that you lose sight of the big picture. And in his book, Crouch emphasized, how there were many times his family failed tremendously at the principles he recommended.
However, he also emphasized that we can strive for many of these principles, without being perfect at them, and still see the benefits of being a tech-wise family.
-How is your family tech-wise? What works?! Please comment below!-
Photo by Tracy Le Blanc from Pexels
