Fading Childhood - Original Writing

Children now a days are on technology, starring at screen for hours. When I was younger I would go outside and run around, or explore. Now little children don't do that, they are

This technology revolution sparked a debate on children’s use of technology. Children are constantly using iPads, iPhones, tablets, and other computerized devices. By over exposing children to technology, they are being robbed of the mental stimulation that comes from doing real, non computerized, activities. It has gotten to the point where one can see a two-year-old navigate an iPhone with ease but struggle to speak. Sixty-nine percent of children aged two to five can use a computer mouse, but only eleven percent can tie their own shoelaces (Generation Tech More Kids Can Play Computer Games than Ride a Bike). Also, children are at an all time low in the creativity department

The reading of “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv has opened my mind and hopefully everyone else’s that has read Mr. Louv’s book. How the world is paralyzing the young kids. It’s sad to say but the kids are the victims in today’s high tech world, not enough are going outside an exercising and do what the past generations did to socialize with other kids and have fun but instead play with the new technology that is in everyone’s face.

In these modern times it is no secret that computer technology has become part of our everyday lives. Being an 18 year old kid now I still remember when I was in grade school I didnt have half of the technology these kids have now. It is almost getting out of hand what 10 year old kid needs a iphone and a smart watch. My own nephews are 3 and 4 and they wont put down there tablets ever. They go into screaming fits if you take it away from them.

Anyone who has children, or who is often interacting with children, will recognize that childhood is not the same or how they remembered. The popularity of technology and especially social media has changed what it means to be a child. The largest problem told by care givers of children is that they participate less in imaginative play. Modern technology means that their devotion is being demanded by more and more things, so they don’t have the inclination to play.

In today’s society we are overwhelmed with technology. Technology is changing everyday, and will forever be a staple in our lives. The effect that technology has on our children has brought on some concerns and some praises. Children these days have no choice but to some how be influenced by the ever growing technology in our societies. Our common concern has been that although digital technology has boosted children’s talent for multitasking, their ability to process information deeply may be deteriorating (Carpenter, 2010). Many people have a wide range of opinions on if technology is having a positive influence on our children or a negative, there is a vast amount of evidence to support both of these arguments. Technology can refer to

‘The games, rhymes and stories might have been found in anywhere in Britain. The only differences lie in the local names ad rules for games.’ (Opie,1993,pg. VII) Based on these findings they believed that childhood is far from disappearing. Peter and Iona Opie argue that children have their own separate culture that is not connected with the adult’s culture. For example, ‘Children also create pretending games, using ingredients from life, books, or television programmes… Minor traditional games are the stand-bys of the playground: Trains, Horses, Chiggy-Backs…’ (Opie,1993,pg.12). This shows that children are not like adults; they have their own set of mind and play their own games that adults would not understand meaning that childhood may not be disappearing. This evidence also contradicts Postman’s argument as it shows that childhood has not changed and it is the same as it has always been. Even though this evidence can provide us information on how children may act, a criticism of this research is that it could be considered as aged biased, Peter and Iona Opie only looks at children in primary school and does not consider children under the age of 7 or over the age of 10 meaning that findings cannot be generalised to over age

I spent my free time outside with my siblings, trying to stay out for as long as we could, until we heard my Mother whistle to us at exactly 6 o’clock every day; that meant dinner was ready, on the table, and we needed to hurry inside. I grew up on a cul-de-sac, our house over looked the entire street. The neighborhood kids, my siblings, and I would spend our time exploring and going on adventures. Hardly ever did we sit inside the house all day, consumed by television or playing video games. It seems as if children in today’s society have been forced into becoming dependent on technology and overly stimulated structured schedules, which could severely affect our future generations.

The current generation of children is completely different than the preceding ones. They are living in the digital age. “Technology has blended in with daily activity to become a way of life and children today take for granted all of which is automated. It is hard for kids nowadays to imagine a world that existed without all of the gadgets, electronics and seamless operations that computer technology provides.” (3) “Children in the United States devote some 40 hours a week to television, video games and the Internet.” (12) Many psychologists and researchers are concerned about the impact that technology has on children. Children, tomorrow’s future parents and leaders, are being consumed by the negative effects that technology had on their

Play is an activity that develops imagination, and although unstructured play is getting progressively diminished time in children’s lives as a result of technology, family lifestyles, beliefs, and obligations, and the current educational policy of shrinking down the curriculum, it is still most preschoolers’ everyday occupation. Unstructured, outdoor play where children have “access to the world at large” would seem to be the method of choice of the type of play that offers the most cognitive and affective benefits, according to researchers and educators (White & Stoecklin, 1998). In his book, Last Child In the Woods, Richard Louv quotes Professor Robin Moore, an international

Today’s technology has greatly impacted the young children’s everyday lives. Phones, tablets, and computers are all a form of technology that impact the way kids are influenced. Some children get phones or computers at young ages and it can cause kids to depend on it to entertain them. Eventually they will allow the technology to take over and have it become the form of communication between friend and family instead of face to face. As parents continue to buy their children new technology they don’t monitor the amount of time their children spend on the Internet. Technology is becoming more advanced overtime which causes children to become more attached and unable to function without it near by.

Children aren’t interested in playing with dolls, hotwheels or simply going outside, and seeing what nature offers them. Children now rely on technology to entertain themselves, which does not require them to use their brain. When children use to play outside and use their imagination, they’ve activated their brain because they

"Play that is initiated and directed by children and that bubbles up from within the child rather than being imposed by adults is disappearing from our landscape of childhood. There are many reasons for this, such as long hours spent in front of a TV, fear of "stranger danger" when outside." (Exchange Every Day, 2009)

This modern society has, without a doubt, adapted to technology; which makes it difficult to visualise life with anything technological. This significantly influences children in a negative impact, seeing as technology takes up of all

The issues that arise from society 's dependency on technology begins with the individuals that are now entering our world. The market for app designers has begun to shift, and now they are targeting today’s youth with games that are accessible through phones, tablets, and computers. Most parents have noticed their children adopting an interest with technology and are openly giving their children these devices, instead of having them play hands-on with real objects such as play dough or three-dimensional blocks. Research has