When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 1 Corinthians 13:11
I shared last week the research that the age of adulthood is now 27 years old.
Adulthood, in this research, is defined as the average age at which the frontal cortex is fully developed.
Last week, I also included the functions that the frontal cortex controls. One of these is the ability to assess risk in different situations.
In his book, “Marching Off the Map,” author Tim Elmore quotes the Pew Research Center.
“…students today put technology in the same category as air and water. In short, they believe: ‘I must have it to survive.’ The same report reveals that college students would rather give up their pinky finger than their cell phone.” This study goes on to say that teens interact mostly with romantic partners in a digital manner.
Elmore’s book goes on to say; “A recent study conducted by Common Sense Media found that 50 percent of teens believe they are addicted to their phones, and 60 percent of surveyed parents agreed.”
Our young people are now taking their phone to bed with them and even finding ways to take their phones into the shower with them.
So, in knowing the above to be true, adults need to ask: “What is the risk?”
What is the risk to our kids and to our families due to the predominance of technology?
Young people are growing up immersed in it. Those who create websites, games, social media, and other internet resources have figured out how to get us hooked. And, yes, kids are reporting frustrations that their parents seem unavailable due to time spent on screens.
Have a conversation in your home about how much is too much.
Set rules that all must follow, regarding the amount of time interacting with screens. Before you put a screen (phone tablet etc.) into the hands of your child, stop and consider the risk.
Have your rules and expectations set before you put it in their hands.
Young people are not able to see how the extended use and even addiction can have harmful effects now and in the future.