November 14th, 2006
Here’s a Yahoo! - Press Release that looks at how modern tech-savvy families attempt to stay connected. Yes, we have lots to do, and none of us wants to give up our time on the computer or Playstation. Still, technology can help us stay in touch. It also helps us multi-task and plan our days, so that we can spend more time together as a family.
Of course, we homeschoolers are somewhat ahead of the game, since we’re together through the school day. The trick is to use our tech gadgets as tools to save time for more important matters, instead of letting them take up our time. It’s about efficiency and not just entertainment, in other words.
For instance, mobile phones and instant messaging helps families keep on top of what is going on whenever we are called different directions. Email and instant messaging are particularly nice when the older ones fly the coop. Vacations or international youth trips are another time it’s nice to be able to communicate electronically.
The Yahoo article looks at Asian families as well as American ones. Asian parents were more likely to be concerned that their kids were not getting enough exercise because of their electronic entertainment. Perhaps we Westerners would be wise to pay a little more attention to this concern. It grieves me to see so many fat kids. Being overweight is such a hard load to carry, and it’s got to be really difficult for teens and children, especially if they are in a peer group that teases them.
Another way technology works into the lives of families with kids is through educational television. Many of the parents interviewed felt that educational TV had helped their kids with their education. It’s certainly not a complete education, but it seems to me like a selective offering of the best of public TV can certainly complement a homeschool curriculum.
Another finding in this study was that the Internet has become the number one source of information about many things, although TV is still tops for the news. I love being able to get the weather report any time I want it by just clicking on weather.com.
All this is kind of funny in a way, because our family has been homeschooling for a looooong time. In fact, when we started, we chose not to even own a television set because most of what would be on was not worth watching. We didn’t have a computer because, well, they were too expensive and most normal people didn’t have them yet. I think we had a little electronic game the kids could practice math facts on, and that was about the limit of our technology. We didn’t even have a CD player!
When my mom passed away, we inherited her TV and VCR, and movies became a favorite family activity. Educational, family oriented movies, that is. We still don’t watch network TV or have cable or satellite. Being away from the mainstream of communications helps, because we really can’t pick up television stations, and we don’t miss it.
And so what am I rambling on about anyway? Well, just this. Having techy stuff in your house doesn’t have to interfere with your family life. In fact, watching DVD’s can make a neat family night paired with a little microwave popcorn. Just be sure to take time to talk about what you watch. Not a “lesson.” Just conversation. And laughter.
I like the new way, frankly.
