The evolution of babysitting with technology
Friday, March 9, 2012 at 06:55AM According to a recent study by market researcher Nielsen*, adults commonly use tablets to pacify their children while they are out of the house.
More than half of adults said their children used a tablet as a form of entertainment while traveling. Two out of five gave their children a tablet to keep them occupied while they were at a restaurant or event.
Horrible parent skills, one might conclude. But it's not new. Haven't we used technology as a babysitter for a very, very long time?
(Education commentary below.)
1950s - TV (My babysitter)
1970s - Color TV (My daughter's babysitter)
!980s - VCRs (My son's babysitter)
2000s - Computer websites (My first grandson's babysitter)
2010s - Apps (My second grandson's babysitter)
Today - More apps (My third grandson's babysitter)
My thought is that we've used technology as a babysitter in school as well. But has there been an evolution?
Number Munchers 1982 - Apple II
Number Munchers 2012 - iPad
Sigh...
*Head's up from Ian Jukes's Committed Sardine Blog
Reader Comments (4)
I agree. In my district we pay a rediculous amount of money to subscribe to a service so they kids can sit and get their basic technology skills. I refuse to plug them in when they come see me for media & technology class; it's a waste of my professional training to do that. I was so pleased to hear that we're dropping it next year. I really didn't see the value of it; they'd do the lessons with their teachers and come see me... but I'd have to teach it to them all over again for the lessons that I teach.
And I hated number munchers. I was not a math person, so I didn't care where the pressure came from be it a timed pencil or paper test or a computer game. I didn't get fast at it until I saw the value in it. The same with technology skills. It HAS to be authentic if it's going to get stuck in their heads!
Great post! But I did a double-take when I read this line --
"adults commonly use tablets to pacify their children while they are out of the house."
I thought you were saying that adults commonly DRUG their children! What relief to realize you meant a different kind of tablet!
Hi Nicole,
It's funny how different kids react to timed drills. Like you, my son detested them, but other kids seem to like the challenge.
But would agree that the authentic, applied skills are the ones kids and adults remember best.
Thanks for the response,
Doug
Hi Diane,
Hmmmm. it didn't occur to me that a tablet could be a drug, but I can see how it might startle someone!
Doug
I really like your post.
Good Luck...........