My thoughts on technology

The question came up during a book club recently about kids and technology. Specifically, did we think (as the main character of the book did) that kids spend too much time with technology instead of learning practical things. As I've also read quite a few opinions about technology and whether or not it has a place on vacation, I'm going to give you my opinion.

In the current age, technology is useful and it's not going away. Having kids that are comfortable with that technology isn't a bad thing. It's going to be a major part of their lives, so the better they understand it and the more comfortable they are with it the easier their future will be. I personally enjoy the tech I own, but I don't understand it as well as my kids do. It's highly likely they won't understand it as well as their kids do either.


I am a parent that allows tech to travel with us anywhere and every where. We are a family that can be seen sitting at a table, each with our own device in our hands. We also talk to each other, share what we see on our screens, talk about what we see and hear, and have open discussions about anything and everything, often with varying and sometimes conflicting viewpoints. I wouldn't trade this for the world.

While there is absolute value in non-tech time (I'm writing at Barnes & Noble while my boys are playing tabletop games with other people, no tech involved), I also value the times we are sharing our thoughts, opinions, and beliefs because of what we've seen and read on our phones/tablets.

On vacation I allow tech, I'm mildly addicted myself after all. I also plan activities and events that get them out in the world and immersed in new experiences. We camp, go to museums, festivals, zoos, and anything else we find interesting. Tech is allowed in the car and at the campsite. When we're out and about, we're usually too busy for it, or too interested in the world around us. In the evenings we have a campfire, and then retire to the tent to watch a movie before going to sleep. This is perfectly normal to me, and I'm good with this. You may not be. It may not be the right choice for your family, and that's okay too. No one HAS to have tech-time, just like no one should HAVE to be tech-free.

During the book club I compared tech now to my own entertainments as a kid for car rides, camping, and summertime. Books. I read avidly. So did both my parents. I can't imagine someone in my youth criticizing my parents for their decision to allow me to take books everywhere. I would go outside at home, climb a tree, and read. I would read in the car, at campsites, and anywhere else I happened to be. I now read on my devises (and "real" books too, I will take books in any way I can). My family talked too, but I don't recall ever having a book spark discussions and spontaneous sharing like tech does now.

I feel more social now, even if I'm not seeing my friends all the time, because I can connect with them all the time on social media. I have friends around the country, people with very different schedules than mine, and I can feel connected to them thanks to social media, email, and texting. I can catch up with them on my time and they on theirs. I can offer support and encouragement at any time, cheer people on that are doing something life-changing, and make connections that are meaningful with people I've never met in person. They're my real-life friends as opposed to my fictional-character friends.

All in all, everyone has to do what's right for them. Quit measuring people by your values and opinions. It's not flattering to you, it's narrow-minded. Find what's unique in each other and celebrate it. Thanks to technology I've found some amazing restaurants, coffee shops, festivals, events, and people that I never would have found without it. Remember, it's a tool... Oh, and teach your kids how to change a flat tire, fix a leaky faucet, cook, clean, do laundry, and sew a button on a shirt. Everyone needs to know those things!