Kids, Parents, and Technology: An Unexplored Space

[dr. eitan schwarz]

After over a decade of increasing technology use by youth and parents, there has been no systematic effort to bring a comprehensive and practical tools to parents (see Pew and Kaiser Foundation studies.) While new devices and applications arrive in our homes in increasing speed, parents are still at a loss about organizing the mostly chaotic media lives of kids (see www.mydigitalfamily.org).

As a child psychiatrist, I have began to research the uses of technology in the home and play therapy office and presented initial findings to the American Psychiatric Association (see http://www.mydigitalfamily.org/My_Digital_Family/PA62ndAnnualMeetin... ) and in several chapters of my just-released in paperback and all electronic forms Kids, Parents & Technology: An instruction Manual for Young Fam... (ISBN 9780557194827 - available everywhere) have explored in a child-and family-centered ways of using of digital media in the home and in children's play.

I would like to continue to develop awareness of the kids, families, and technology space to empower parents organize media plans to enhance child development and family life.in this forum.

[Marla Coffey]

Thanks for posting this!

I especially took note of the 'slow-to-come research' comment. One of the things I'd like to see TCFIR doing is creating international teams of researchers to fill that gap, but this will be down the road a bit. Here's an off-the-wall question for you: Do you think it would be practical to have inter-disciplinary research teams? Like a psychologist, educator, anthropologist, etc.? And if it's possible, would people be willing to try it?

Thanks again for your post--it answers a lot of questions for me. I haven't had a chance to read any of the linked pages, but I'm looking forward to it!

Marla

[dr. eitan schwarz]

Increased Media Coverage Leaves Cyberparents Even More Helpless

Hooray! After over a decade of relative chaos and over-emphasis on safety, we are finally seeing how, as usual, while created to serve us, tools have profound effects on us. It is about time: In recent days, a spate of articles have peppered media about the effects on humans of technology. They comprise of two categories: Cognitive neuroscience and social-familial. There are alarmists and there are technophiles. Slow-to-come new research is reported, and experts are interviewed to put it in context.

So far so good. But other than piquing curiosity, this mostly alarmist raportage is piecemeal and offers scant practical advise. “In fact, parents tell me that they are left frustrated and without a comprehensive approach and practical tools. ‘What are we supposed to do?’ They are very concerned, and many try to restrict access and time, while others claim ignorance and shrug their shoulders helplessly. None of this works very well,” according to Dr. Eitan Schwarz, a veteran Chicago child-psychiatrist who uses media as play therapy in his practice.

“Let’s get positive! Technology is here to stay and can be great for families and kids. We know lots about what is good for kids and families. Now let’s apply solid principles of good parenting to home technology consumption. Parents need a comprehensive, hands-on set of tools that will integrate technology into good parenting practices. Whatever new device comes, and surely they will keep coming, parents should be able to decide about its use in their homes and in children’s hands just as they make choices about education, recreation, and nutrition,” states Dr. Schwarz and elaborates on www.mydigitalfamily.org. Dr. Schwarz’s just-released “Kids, Parents & Technology: An Instruction Manual for Young Families” is available in paperback and all electronic forms.

“This is a crucial part of life now. There is no quick fix here. Parents need to commit themselves to learn about technology, and use it as they do other home appliances. No technology gadget belongs near kids if it does not serve family life or their development. Period.”

Sources:
http://www.mydigitalfamily.org/My_Digital_Family/PA62ndAnnualMeetin...
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/garden/10childtech.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/10/technology/personaltech/10basics....
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/06/09/financi...
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brain.html?nl=techno...
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brainside.html?nl=te...
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/07/technology/20100607-t...
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/06/06/business/kord-pano.ht...
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/unplugged-take-the-challen...

[dr. eitan schwarz]

Maria, Actually, there are profound developmental implications to the intersection of development with technology in the home, etc. and it takes me a whole book to explore that -- kinda hard to summarize! Eitan. You can begin by looking at our www.mydigitalfamily.org

[Marla Coffey]

Dr. Schwarz,

Thanks so much for opening up this topic! I've often wondered what a psychiatrist or psychologist would say about how the Internet is impacting kids developmentally, socially, etc. Parents have the responsibility of managing and monitoring it, but do you think it's still causing fundamental changes in the way kids learn, think, interact, etc.? Beyond changes in the way learning and communication are delivered--is it changing the way kids function internally? I've read that adults are experiencing changes in short and long term memory because of our dependence on devices--who needs to memorize directions when your GPS can do it for you? If adults are affected this way, to what extent will it affect kids as they grow up.

I know this is going off-topic a little bit, not really about parents developing media plans, but I'm excited to have an opportunity to ask someone who works directly with kids.

Thanks!

Marla