Aria Huffman - Technology and Environmental Disconnect in Children

Recently, I have noticed a strong disconnect in children from the outside world. In public spaces, such as restaurants, I see many parents of young children immediately shoving an iPad into their children's faces in order to keep them occupied and distracted for the duration of the meal or outing. I believe that this practice will cause deep and irreparable damage to our future generation. When I was a child I spent my free time playing outside with my friends and neighbors. At restaurants, I participated in conversations with my family and if I acted out then my parents would take me outside and talk to me about how I was feeling so as to not disturb other patrons. I believe that this helped me to effectively regulate and express my emotions. I think that many parents today are afraid of allowing their kids to be bored so they are constantly giving them stimulation through technology and tasks. This doesn't allow children to sit with their thoughts, process their feelings, and sit in feelings of discomfort. These feelings are not only normal but also necessary for childhood development. I believe that being in nature with your friends as a child helps you to solve problems, cope with interpersonal conflict, and build your relationship skills. Without these skills, you are unable to live in the 'real world'. Parents need to let their kids be bored and solve their own problems or their children will suffer in adulthood.

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