TECHNOLOGY: Gov’t says parents need more info on apps for kids
February 16, 2012 at 5:14 pm in Grand Forks Herald
Who is monitoring the apps that kids use on their phones? The government complained Thursday that software companies producing games and other mobile applications aren’t telling parents what personal information is being collected from kids and how companies are using it.
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Technology may be a useful thing, however, it has sabotaged human relationships, especially between children and their parents. Today’s youth are lacking communication skills. They are lacking skills they will need in their careers. We, as their parents, have a responsibility to not allow them to become so dependent upon technology. We have a responsibility to encourage and foster the skills they will need in the future.
Today’s youth [and many adults] are so dependent upon it that they are “bored” if they don’t have access to some means of technology. I tell my kids that there is no such thing as “boredom”. . .there is ALWAYS something to do. My family does not own a tv or video games and does not have internet or texting on our cell phones (they are talk only). Not having those on the cell phone insures that I will hear my kids’ voices on the other end of the line. With texting, you can’t be sure it is your child or one of his or her peers. We do have computers, the internet, and a few computer games, but time on the computers is limited. I am far from “tiger mom”, but I have too much love and respect for my children to allow them to sit in front of a computer all day missing out on the wonderful thing called life. They all play violin and piano (all by their choice — they let me know that they wanted to play and what instruments) and my oldest child also plays the violin. I have much to be proud of becuas they are also excelling in school. I foresee college scholarships and tremendous opportunities ahead for them.
I think something else we must keep in mind and tell our children is that when they use the internet to do “research” instead of reference materials (i.e. encyclopedia), that they really are not doing all of the work. It is those who compiled the data and posted their findings on the internet who have done most of the work. Also, remind them that Wikipedia is not a reliable source (per many college professors and high school teachers) and caution them about citing everything, even if they are paraphrasing.
I would be interested to know if there are other parents out there who are concerned about the amount of time kids spend in front of the tv, computer, multi-purpose cell phone, etc. What are some things you have tried to insure it doesn’t get out of control?
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How is a computer different from playing Piano or Violin? Its another hobby. I would have hated it if my parents would have stifled my interest in computers and technology. I doubt I would be where i am today (IT work at a large global company) if i had not had the support from my parents for my interest in them.
I too play Violin, and Piano, add to that I also play Drums/Percussion. I also play video games and dabble in computer/phone application programming. Technology is not all bad, don’t be putting a death note on your kids interests just because it doesn’t appeal to you.
As for reference materials, you do realize most academic journals are all digital now? White papers are searchable, and easily accessed on the internet. That is what is recommended to use for your research now days in Higher Education. Your days of “Searching” a card catalog or ODIN, are now switched to searching digital academic journals for keywords and reading the associated published works to find the information you are looking for.
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My children are happy and bright children. They are exceptionally intelligent, very talented, and their peers have a lot of respect for them. Having some restrictions has not harmed them in any way. They do have the necessary skills for using computers and the internet, but I have made other options available to them such as printed reference materials. From an early age they all seemed to have an interest in the more “intellectual” things than they did electronic or computerized things (both varieties of toys, games, etc. have always been available to them).
My children are well-rounded because of the wide array of tools that I have made available to them and the fostering of their interests. I let them lead the way in showing what their interests were from a very young age. By providing options outside of technology, I am helping my children learn how to “survive” without it. Technology is not always reliable so society needs to learn how to do without it by giving themselves time away from it every so often. In our home, we have 2 technology-free days per week. The radio and telephone are excluded from that, but the computers remain off. My children have expressed that they don’t mind those days because it gives them time to do other things that they enjoy doing. One of my friend’s children came to our home and told her mom that she likes it at our home becuase it is “quiet”. It can be overwhelming and stressful to have noise coming from so many different things and directions.
Professionals who work in child development caution parents time and time again about children spending too much time in front of the tv, computer, etc. I see evidence of that when some of my children’s friends visit. I’m sure they would support the way I am raising my children because it goes along with what they recommend.
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