In the digital age, it takes a special strength to resist distractions and stay focused and productive. This is a valuable skill for anyone to have, and many parents are aware of the dangers of too much screen time. But parents often overlook the fact that kids need to be taught how to be “indistractable”. Attention is a crucial facet of learning and children are not being taught the skill of regulating their own focus, Nir Eyal asserts in his article.
Teaching kids to avoid distractions starts with teaching them that spending too much time with technology means less time for other things they enjoy, such as going to the park or playing with friends. Moreover, although a difficult concept, parents should help their children understand how companies profit from their screen time. Apps and websites are designed to keep you engaged, and this awareness is important for anyone trying to resist distractions.
Aside from understanding technology and the detriment to attention, Eyal believes that children need autonomy. This autonomy is important because technology allows for an unprecedented independence for each person that can be used for both good and bad. Parents can let their children decide for themselves how much screen time they think is reasonable, and negotiate from there. After that, embracing disagreements and discussion is key. Allowing children to set their own rules means that they can monitor their own behaviour. However, it doesn’t mean that they will be perfect at it – even adults struggle with putting away their screens.
Above all, children cannot escape technology or the less desirable aspects of it. If children know the dangers, and that they can overcome them, they will feel more prepared for the world in front of them. Teaching self regulation skills early and educating children will help forge the path for a new generation of “indistractable” people.
Tags: children, social mediaCategorised in: Uncategorized
This post was written by McKenzie Cline