The Smartphone
“Come,” said the Pencil to the boy, “and
draw with me.” So the boy reached for the pencil, about to touch it to his
sketch pad. “But I can show you a three-hour drawing condensed into three
minutes,” said the Smartphone.
So the boy watched the drawing of a world map,
complete with oceans, seas, and capitals, finished in three minutes.
“Come,” said the Paintbrush to the boy, “and
paint a river with me.” So the boy picked up the paintbrush, about to dip it
into the sky-blue watercolor paint. “But I can show you a river in India, one
in Alaska, and the largest waterfall in the world,” said the Smartphone.
So the boy watched videos of the Rivers Ganges and
Alsek, and clips of Victoria Falls tumbling 5,600 feet into volcanic dikes.
“Come,” said the Books, “and read about a
lion that battles a witch and a ship’s journey into heaven.”So the boy opened
one, curled up on the couch and began reading. “But I can give you the movie,”
replied the Smartphone, “and a soundtrack that stirs your soul.”
So the boy closed the book, got up from the couch,
sat at the counter, and watched the video.
“Come,” called the Trees and Birds outside.
“Climb us, and listen to us sing.” As the boy stepped outdoors, the Smartphone
called, “But with me you can play a game where you scale mountains while
dodging man-eating vultures.” So the boy stepped back inside to play the game.
With his face glued to the Smartphone, the iPad
next to him dinged: a text. The boy glanced at the message. Returning to his
game, he heard a ping: an e-mail in his inbox. He read it and returned to his
Smartphone, where a flashing Snapchat announcement obscured a bloodthirsty
vulture.
Next to his iPad, the pencil lay motionless, and
next to the computer, the paintbrush unused.
And beside his Smartphone, “The Lion, The Witch and
the Wardrobe” lay with uncreased pages, the lion’s roar stifled, the witch’s
cackle silenced, and the gate into Imagination closed.
Parents
Delay the use smartphone and social media.
Encourage creativity, exploration, reading, outside
adventures, art and movement.
This story is by Jill Thomas and was in the Star
Tribune.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGsnBfQZwjpkkkxbVXCMgQqgqKm
Advice from young people on the use of Social Media:
"I would tell young people ... the internet is far off from reality and the more time you spend on it, the more you forget what real life is actually like...,"
"Don't let social media control your life or your self-esteem,"
"I have repeatedly deleted Instagram in an effort to improve my emotional state but then, I reinstall. Many times,"
If you're a Parent - get involved.
"In order to prevent addiction and manage digital wellbeing, it is important for parents to set boundaries for their children/teenagers,"
"Try to keep tech out of the bedroom."
Rules need to apply to the whole family, including the parents themselves. "For example, if you have a family dinner, no one has a device at the table," - "If a parent is driving your adolescent to a game or a practice ... the parent can say, 'If you're going to want me to drive you, you're not on your phone, you're talking to me.' "
