Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up Using Smartphones

When my children were young, and I was very busy taking care of them, and the house, and homeschooling some of them, if someone would have handed me a device that would have stopped them in their tracks and kept them occupied for hours so that I could get everything done on that very long list of things to do that I always had….I probably would have given them each a device.

So I understand why today’s children (including some of my grandchildren) are spending time on smartphones. But we’re seeing more and more evidence that smartphones are a very bad idea for children. They keep them from playing, which is how they learn. They keep them from using their imaginations, which is not a good thing. And now a recent study shows that children who use smartphones spend twice as long using them as talking to their parents.

This is logical, and alarming. The parent-child relationship must supersede all else in a young child’s life. This is how they learn the most important things they need to know: from their parents. Anything that interrupts that relationship needs to go.

It will be hard. I totally understand. Even though I haven’t raised a young child in decades, I remember what it’s like. But it’s time to admit that children should not be allowed to do anything with smartphones. These devices are too addicting, and they take children away from far more important things, like conversing with their parents.

Parents are Giving Away Their Kids’ Personal Data Instead of Protecting Them

The British government is sounding the alarm that posting photos of your children online not only violates their privacy, but sets them up for a future where they’ll be unable to control their “digital footprint.”

To make matters worse, many toys as well as communication tools such as Amazon’s Alexa are gathering personal information on your children, information that can be sold to anyone from marketers to law enforcement officials.

I believe some children will be very unhappy to learn, as adults, that their photos and other personal data have been amassed by people and organizations all over the world since before they were born, when their parents (usually their mothers) posted their ultrasound scans.

The Brits are wise to warn parents about this. I wish the U.S. government would issue similar warnings to American parents, many of whom post literally thousands of photos of their children on social media. Remember, even if you “limit” who can see your children’s photos on Facebook, for instance, Facebook can still sell those photos to anyone they want. You agreed to that when you signed up for Facebook, you know.

Parents, you’re supposed to be your children’s protectors. Get a clue!

How Schools Help Turn Children into Coddled Young Adults

People are complaining that the milennials won’t grow up, and in many cases they’re right. But who’s at fault? Their parents for coddling them, and the schools for treating teens like children.

This article points out what limited freedom today’s teens have. Even working is seen as inferior to going to school. Back in the 1970s, teens who didn’t want to go to college could go to school until noon and then leave for work. Now, if they work, they’re dragged back to the waste of time that is modern high school. Never mind that those first few jobs get young people on the road to eventually supporting themselves by giving them a taste of earning their own money.

While you’re there, scroll down and check out the chart in that same article, the chart showing the growth in students, teacher and administrators since 1950. There hasn’t even been 100% growth in the number of students, but we’ve gained 252% in the number of teachers, and a whopping 702% in the number of administrators.

Clearly public education has become a cash cow for many people, while preparing teens for adulthood takes a back seat. Savvy parents will put their teens’ needs first and help them get ready for adulthood without waiting for permission from the school, while homeschooling parents have the freedom to make the teen years a launching pad into adulthood, which is as it should be.

(Prepare your teen for adulthood with my book, Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers, now available in an expanded third edition, and also newly released as an eBook.)

Forcing Kids Outside to Play

A recent British study shows that nearly half of all kids are pushed outside to play by their parents because they’d rather stay inside and use their phones and play video games. I’m surprised the percentage is that low. But I suppose many kids get some fresh air and sunshine while they’re at soccer practice.

This summer, my neighbor’s two small children have been outside most days, either riding their bikes or swimming in their new pool. But they’re the only children I’ve seen doing so. I guess everyone else is inside texting each other.

My kids were usually brown by August because they’d been playing outside all summer. I was the same way when I was a kid. Will those days ever return? Or are kids doomed by technology to stay inside all the time from now on?

I Wonder When Parents Will Wise Up?

I think it’s tragic that well over half of eighth-graders are considered “not proficient” in reading and math these days.

I also think it’s tragic that 25% of kids under age six have their own smartphones. Think of all the things those little ones should be doing instead of playing on their phones.

I could write endlessly about all the reasons why I don’t think kids should have phones.

But I won’t. Instead, I’ll just say that these two trends must be related. Children who spend all their time on passive entertainment are not learning about the world around them and are slowly being anesthetized. Had they been given the time, space and opportunity to learn naturally, they would probably be proficient at reading and math by eighth grade even if they didn’t go to school at all.

The most chilling quote from the second article has to be this one:

Eight in 10 parents surveyed said they don’t limit the amount of time their kids can use their smartphones.

When will parents wake up?