There is no doubt about the fact that we are living in the age of technology. With MySpace, Facebook, the Internet, video games, televisions, and iPods, it can be rather difficult for parents to find ways to get their children to disconnect from these sources of technology. Although technological advances have certainly benefitted society in a number of ways, it is also important for individuals to take time to revel in the natural world around them. But, how exactly are we supposed to pull our kids away from their TV and computer screens? If you want your kids to learn the importance of disconnecting every once in a while, consider the following tips for keeping your children unplugged in a high-tech age.
Books
One great way for kids to unplug is to read. Parents should make an effort to teach their children about the importance of reading from an early age. Reading to your younger children will not only help them develop their reading and communication skills, it will also help them to establish and maintain a bond with parents. As children grow older, they will also be more likely to recognize how rewarding reading can be as a habitual activity. Parents should encourage their children to read by establishing a set "family reading time." Whether it is for half an hour every evening, or for a couple of hours throughout the weekend, set a rule in your home that all electronics (computers, TVS, and radios) should be switched off for a set amount of time so that all members of the family can read in peace and quiet.
Alternatively, you and your children can join a local book club, or establish a family book club of your own. Choose a book to read weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or whatever fits your schedule. Then, hold a meeting for all members to share and discuss their thoughts about the book you selected.
Parents can also encourage their children to read by taking them to the local library or to bookstores. Many bookstores will frequently feature book signings where authors read passages from their latest books and often spend time answering audience members' questions. Taking your kids to these sorts of events can help spark a lifelong interest in reading that will benefit them in an age that is predominately focused on technological mediums.
Exercise
Exercise is crucial to maintaining a healthy, happy, and balanced lifestyle. From an early age, children should be taught the importance of exercising. No matter how much they want to spend time browsing the internet, it is crucial that kids take time off to exercise and get outdoors. Parents should attempt to make exercising a family activity or ensure that each member of the family is getting enough exercise. Gyms typically offer discounts when families sign up together. Just be sure that you check the age requirements at your gym.
For families with younger children, taking long walks together or going biking can serve as a great outlet for stress and as a great method for ensuring that your children are as active as possible.
Alternatively, many schools offer children the opportunity to become involved in team sports. Encourage your child to explore the various sports that his or her school has to offer. If he or she is unable to "make the cut" and be on a school-sponsored team, look into the activities provided by local community centers. More often than not, these centers will provide team sports for all children and do not have limits on who can join.
Outdoor Hobbies
Encouraging your children to pursue outdoor hobbies is also a great way to ensure that they will take the time to unplug from technology and spend a greater amount of time in the natural world. Hobbies like hiking, fishing, or canoeing can teach your children about the beauty of nature and instill in them a greater appreciation for their environment. These activities can one day become lifelong hobbies for your children and can guarantee that well into their adolescences or adult lives, they will take the time to break away from the technological world they have become so immersed in.
Family Time
Family time can be extremely important in keeping your kids unplugged and very beneficial not only for kids but for parents as well. Spending time together as a family gives children a sense of belonging and can help parents be sure that they establish deep, unshakable bonds with their children. Rather than allowing your children to lock themselves in their rooms with unlimited internet and television access, set aside time to unplug and spend together as a family. Whether this "down time" is simply an hour each night with no distractions and face-to-face conversation around the dinner table, or whether it is setting aside a particular night of the week for board games and other family activities (such as yard work, reading, or volunteering), quality time as a family helps family members grow closer and can also establish traditions that may last a lifetime for your children.
Travel and "Fieldtrips"
Another great way to encourage your children to unplug from their technology-filled worlds is to establish time to travel as a family or take "fieldtrips" closer to your home. Many families simply cannot afford to travel very often, but when you can, you should attempt to plan family vacations or trips that can allow you and your children to spend time exploring a foreign location. Children who go overseas and are afforded the opportunity to view different cultures that are not so "high-tech" as their own, will often find a new appreciation for life outside their computer and television screens. Furthermore, they may just learn something about history and other cultures.
If your family cannot afford expensive trips, "fieldtrips" to local museums, parks, or other attractions nearby are often just as eye opening for many children. Take a trip to your local museum as a family and then take time to discuss your thoughts and feelings about what you were able to see that day.
Taking a "fieldtrip" to serve as volunteers for a day at a local nonprofit organization can also help your family grow closer and have a newfound appreciation for the luxuries that your family is able to afford. Not only will volunteering teach your children the importance of giving back to the community and helping others in need, these day trips can also be a fun way for your children to spend some time away from technology and plugging into a more human connection.
In conclusion, there are many ways that parents can keep their children unplugged, even in a high-tech age. All you need is a little bit of creativity and some gentle encouragement and it is likely that you will be able to teach your children the importance of taking some time off from their increasingly technology-oriented worlds in order to experience some of the natural world around them and revel in the human connections they can make outside of technology.