I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
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I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
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Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#2The hardest thing for me has been young children begging, just begging, for screen time. It's heartbreaking and I know very few parents who have managed to make no mean no. I grew up watching TV but then, TV was mostly for adults and I only paid attention those few hours it was child-friendly. I spent almost the entire decade of the 90s without a television, only going to the movies or the occasional VHS. Even today, while I'm on my computer for 8 hours/5 days a week, I read books when I stop work or cook or just sit and talk. I turn off the screen, close the laptop and turn off wifi on my phone. I worry for the attention span our kids won't have.
When was the last time you let a child just get bored, so they might entertain themselves with their imagination?
On the other side, when we go out for walks or camping or away from tech, it really doesn't take long for the kids to adjust.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#3[deleted]
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#4It's a level-headed article. Parenting, like almost nothing else, turns normal, intelligent, educated people into nutters. A rational, evidence-based conversation about screen time, breastfeeding, pregnancy, birth, education, and diet is increasingly impossible to have, especially with millennial parents.
I just got my four year old an iPhone (with a data plan, because she realized she didn't have wifi in the car). It's great! She can text me emojis and Digital Touch messages, and Facetime me at work whenever she wants. It's fine: https://www.theguardian.com/science/head-quarters/2017/jan/0....
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#5It's a level-headed article. Parenting, like almost nothing else, turns normal, intelligent, educated people into nutters. A rational, evidence-based conversation about screen time, breastfeeding, pregnancy, birth, education, and diet is increasingly impossible to have, especially with millennial parents. I just got my four year old an iPhone (with a data plan, because she realized she didn't have wifi in the car). I…
Four is a bit early to be going to work
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#6[deleted]
The submitter edited that out for space. We've dropped it altogether, which is the most common practice on HN, but we're happy to update it again if someone can suggest a better title.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#7'One of my favorite things you can do is plan a “device-free dinner.”'
_A_ device free dinner? Why aren't all of them? These weird little "small gestures" make me feel like people have lost control of their homes.
We have a landline expressly to give out to emergency contacts. And dinner is tech free. Every night.
I think the main problem is tech has made everything _else_ easier, but parenting harder, and parents just aren't prepared to fight the battles / put in the work. A parent who is staring at Instagram when they're at the park shouldn't be surprised that their kids wants screens, too.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#8The hardest thing for me has been young children begging, just begging, for screen time. It's heartbreaking and I know very few parents who have managed to make no mean no. I grew up watching TV but then, TV was mostly for adults and I only paid attention those few hours it was child-friendly. I spent almost the entire decade of the 90s without a television, only going to the movies or the occasional VHS. Even today,…
Well, if kids really want anything be sweets, a toy or more screen time they will beg. That's kid's nature ;)
It's the parents job to be firm and establish some limits, making sure they are respected.
Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#9Re: I spent my career in tech, but wasn’t prepared for its effect on my kids
#10I have a 14 yr old and a 16 yr old step kids. They both live with their phones in their hands.
I took them camping this past weekend. Fishing (caught 4 lake trout!), tubing, camp fire .. it was a blast. Even though their was no cell and no wifi neither of them could bare to put their phone down AND CHECK IT.
They had fun, but the second they weren't stimulated they were asking to take a 40 minute boat ride (45mph!) to 'buy some ice cream' and get a cell signal.
Sad.