I took a few days off last week. My kids were on Spring Break and it was a great opportunity to "Power Down" and enjoy the simpler things in life. We headed to Pierre Marquette State Park in Grafton Illinois. I was a bit nervous because the kids are getting older. They seem to be "connected" via iPad, Xbox, or laptop a lot these days. I wasn't sure how engaging the rustic nature of Pierre Marquette would be anymore. We went with a large group from school. There were 22 kids and 9 moms. The kids varied in age from 15 years old to 6 months old. At our first stop, The Fin Inn, I really got worried as the iPod touches and cell phones emerged from pockets while we waited for our food to arrive. At first, I was really excited, they were using their devices to take photos of the cool fish in the aquariums around the restaurant. Then is turned into game time. Deep down inside, I was hoping we hadn't outgrown the innocence of the Pierre Marquette Lodge.
What amazed me (and pleased me) was once we arrived at the Pierre Marquette Lodge, the devices were put away and the kids played! They swam and hiked, played chess and board games, had a big game of football and kickball, and wondered about things they saw in nature! It was totally awesome! I was so glad we had left the house and taken the opportunity to be "unplugged". I was also amazed at how some of the younger kids, age 9 and below, did not know how to play certain board games. Two girls sat down to play checkers and did not know the rules. This made me sad, because I realized how I haven't taken the time to play those types of games with my kiddos. (Not even electronically). This made me realize how our connectivity has almost become an invasive species in our lives. We need to disconnect, power down, and reconnect with the personal side of things.
What amazed me (and pleased me) was once we arrived at the Pierre Marquette Lodge, the devices were put away and the kids played! They swam and hiked, played chess and board games, had a big game of football and kickball, and wondered about things they saw in nature! It was totally awesome! I was so glad we had left the house and taken the opportunity to be "unplugged". I was also amazed at how some of the younger kids, age 9 and below, did not know how to play certain board games. Two girls sat down to play checkers and did not know the rules. This made me sad, because I realized how I haven't taken the time to play those types of games with my kiddos. (Not even electronically). This made me realize how our connectivity has almost become an invasive species in our lives. We need to disconnect, power down, and reconnect with the personal side of things.
I love technology! Our household if filled with laptops, iPads, gaming systems, smart phones, etc. I love to learn and be connected with others. Technology brings us so many great opportunities. I have been reflecting on my experiences from Spring Break. The infographic below came across my Facebook, and it confirmed my thoughts and feelings. When you look at how connected we are a a society, it is amazing! I am part of these statistics! As a parent, I need to be more responsible about how I immerse my kids in technology.
Given my new awareness, I plan to make sure we maintain "tech free" family meals. If the weather is nice, the kids need to be outside, and I need to be the first line of defense in teaching about digital footprints and online safety. I am the parent, I need to have conversations with my kids about what they are doing online and who they are connecting with. I need to provide opportunities for my kids to explore and discover the "real world", not just the "virtual worlds". As a parent, I need to model these behaviors. I have to disconnect from my smart phone and tablet-let email sit, ignore a text, and get off Facebook and Twitter.
So I leave you with a quote from Stephen Shapiro, author of "Best Practices are Stupid."
"Technology can be a wonderful boon to humankind, but sometimes we abuse it in ways that prevent us from really participating in life. For example, I have a BlackBerry phone. My original thinking was that this would free me from my computer and allow me to stay connected. Yes, it does allow me to stay connected electronically, but it also makes me disconnected from what I should really be doing—being present."
I encourage you to reflect on your "connectedness." Are you are embracing, discovering, playing, and enjoying the present? You have control over your devices. I challenge you to "Power Down" and embrace the present!
"Technology can be a wonderful boon to humankind, but sometimes we abuse it in ways that prevent us from really participating in life. For example, I have a BlackBerry phone. My original thinking was that this would free me from my computer and allow me to stay connected. Yes, it does allow me to stay connected electronically, but it also makes me disconnected from what I should really be doing—being present."
I encourage you to reflect on your "connectedness." Are you are embracing, discovering, playing, and enjoying the present? You have control over your devices. I challenge you to "Power Down" and embrace the present!