Don’t Let Technology Take Over Your Family

Posted by Michele McGraw on Jun 29, 2012 in Tech | 0 comments

This weekend, I am attending the Digital Family Summit with my two teens, ages 13 and 16. We are speaking about families blogging together and how blogging affects the family. This has me thinking a lot about how technology has changed the family dynamics.

I’ve decided that technology may be changing what we do when we are together as a family, but it is not changing why we need quality family time.

Thirty years ago,  We weren’t allowed to read, talk on the phone or watch TV during dinner. Today, we have the same rules for my family. No phones, TV or reading during dinner.

I spent my time listening to music on my stereo and talking on our land-line phone to my friends. My kids spend their time listening to music on their iPods and texting on their cell phones. The technology may be different, but the activity is the same.

Technology does not have to be the “bad guy” if you don’t let it. I am teaching my family to use technology to enhance our lives rather than take away from it. We have family game nights and instead of playing cards, we play Just Dance on our Wii.

I am teaching my children to be responsible with the technology. From an early age, they are taught how to use the technology safely and what can happen when you don’t.

Technology is here to stay and our kids will not know a life without technology, so let’s learn to embrace it. Quality family time is as important today as it was 30 years ago.

How does your family deal with the ever-growing technology are kids are using?

Photos from Microsoft Images.