Generally, when we think of addiction, the first things that pop into our minds are drugs or alcohol.
It is certainly very easy to become addicted to mind-numbing or pain-numbing substances when we don’t control our access to them.
In the same, way humans can become addicted to many other things, as well. Some may turn to food or work. Others may become addicted to a certain behavior that may provide comfort or escape.
And so it is with technology!
Oh, there is no denying that the advent of the internet and other technological advances has opened up the world to us.
But, just like other good and necessary things, there is such a thing as too much. For parents, we first must watch ourselves, lest we fall prey to an addiction to screens, games, or other technology. We are the role models for the young lives that live under our care.
As parents, we must be concerned about possible addiction to things related to technology with our kids.
This may be playing a certain game for countless hours, or the simple “need” to have a device ever present for fear that something might be missed.
If you are a parent of very young children, please be aware of the growing body of research that indicates their young, developing brains should be kept entirely away from screens.
If you are a parent of older children, it is okay and good and right to put limitations on the use of screens.
We must ask the question: at what age do we buy a phone for our kids. When is it needed? When is it necessary? What harm is being done if we don’t put controls on this phone?
Let us remember that these young brains are not reaching full development until age 26.
We cannot expect them to make adult decisions lacking this development. Most importantly, we must provide the guidelines and the expectations regarding the use of screens. We must also have a plan for when we see potential addiction or misuse.
