Digital downtime
Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 10:00AM 
This is one of those posts where I don't practice what I preach. If I am watching TV I will pretty much have one eye on Twitter on my iPhone or be checking emails or catching up on RSS feeds.
However, since our son arrived on the scene last June, I have thought more about setting an example for him...
It may be hopelessly unrealistic and old fashioned, but I would like to think that when he is a little older we will be able to go out for dinner and he will sit and talk to us rather than being glued to his PSP (or whatever has replaced them by that stage).
To be fair, when I spend time with him in the evenings and weekends (or the occasional day when I am working from home) I do put down the iPhone and give him my undivided attention... not least because otherwise he is more interested in the shiny screen than in me!
I think this is one of the (many) parenting challenges of the 21st century... how to set an example to our kids about how important it is to put down the gadgets from time to time and focus on the people who are sitting around the table with you.
After all, if we don't do it then how can we expect them to?
How do other parents deal with this? Is the answer to enforce some kind of "digital downtime", or should we just embrace the inevitable... a Neuromancer reality where the implants in our brain keep us constantly connected to the matrix?
Reader Comments (2)
parenting has always been challenge. As a full time working mum to 21 year old and step mum for last 10 years to 2 more children your time is always challenged/ divided. Don't think it is any different now than 20 years ago. Just different things grabbing attention. All children still speaking to me and I'd like to think we have good relationship, Don't eat yourself up at this stage- wait till they are late back from first gig in Liverpool then wonder how to maintain relationship
Technology is part of their world, it's just normal rather than something that was introduced midway through their childhood (like for my generation). I think as a parent I have to bring myself into their world, rather than bring them into mine (although my wife would say I'm with them already and would I put that mobile phone down please!).
I think it's just about teaching them manners, when it is polite to put down the device and engage with the person etc.
Any the irony of this comment is that I am typing this into the PC when I should be really getting the kids bathed and ready for bed!!