I was hanging out with my little cousins a few weeks ago, and they do many things that annoy me. They always want to play ridiculous games, ask me questions about every little thing, and blame me for things that they have actually done. However, they also have a particular talent that is quite impressive. These three girls that are the ages of 6, 8 and 11 are extremely advanced when it comes to technology. They are very actively involved in online activities such as Club Penguin, NeoPets, and simply searching the Web for whatever it is they are curious about.
When I was their age, I barely knew how to operate a computer, let alone performing the detailed things they are involved with. My family had a computer in the house, but it was still not as common for kids at such a young age to be so educated on these very modern developments. These young girls have the privilege to wake up and dive into a world of possibiltiy, and they have the intelligence and experience to allow them to do this. Even a strong understanding of the iPad, which I don't have, is held by all three of these young girls.
I know this extended type of freedom could lead to bad or addicting habbits, and that is why their parents have many regulations. They have strict settings on their internet use and don't hesitate to "hover" when the kids are operating this new, scary technology. Also, their parents only allow a certain amount of time to be spent on the computer; because they know this type of behavior can lead to addictions. I believe this type of parenting is so important in this era because so many kids spend absolutely all of their time on the internet, and get involved with things that are extremely bad for their young age. However, they encourage and mentor their kids on this developing technology.
To sum up this post: I am amazed that my 6-year old cousin is nearly as efficient on a lap top as I am.
I agree with you completely. It's scary how well the young population can navigate through even the most advanced pieces of technology. When I was a kid, the only thing I knew how to do on a computer was playing my computer games my parents bought for me with the purpose of occupying my time for hours on end. With the rapid advancements in technological devices and the reliance of these devices of the current generation, it's only a matter of time before they become bored with even the highest electronic piece on the market. Parents do well about how they limit the freedom on these devices. Without their constraints, I feel as if though children would never see the light of day.
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