Here is an excerpt from an article by Jody Pellerin for the Dallas Morning News (27 June 2014) in which she shares several concerns that many parents and grandparents now have.

Photo: Evans Caglage / Staff Photographer

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In the past few weeks I have observed some commercials that bother me.

How can Nabi, a tablet computer designed for kids, be my child’s friend when it is no more than a tool? Why would the company tell kids to play video games beside a beautiful lake when they could be playing a game of tag or soaking up nature instead?

According to the commercial, it even wants to disrupt my child’s sleep patterns by playing video games while camping in the yard.

Around Christmas we had Apple tell us that it was OK for a kid to shoot video while ostensibly ignoring the people around him. But look, Apple says, he was really filming this fabulous family documentary of the best Christmas ever. Awwwww.

Don’t even get me started on the Gamefly commercial that discourages kids from building a jet pack in favor of playing video games.

In all these cases we have technology companies, who provide very handy tools for education and self- expression, urging kids to ignore their surroundings, detach from others and stare into a lighted screen even when seated next to a BFF.

Kids are told they should drop out, turn on and tune in — to Pokemon and the Mario Bros.

The technological growth we have witnessed in the past few decades is good. But I think the marketing of technology goes in the wrong direction when it tries to remake tools into a lifestyle.

Nabi is a nice, sturdy first tablet built for younger children to use as they would a board book. It should not, however, be referred to as a friend for your child. Nabi cannot take the place of human interaction. It can be both entertaining and educational, but it should not take the place of learning firsthand about our surroundings.

As a parent, I do not worry that my kids won’t learn how to deal with computers, tablets and handheld devices. That will come in plenty of time.

I want them to have an appreciation of what’s right in front of their eyes. I want them to learn how to lead, follow, and compromise with real people. I want them to learn how to judge the weather and live a thoughtful existence observing the changing of the seasons and the passage of time.

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Here is a direct link to the complete article.

Jody Pellerin of Rockwall [Texas] is a freelance writer and a Community Voices volunteer columnist. Her email address is jodypellerin@ aubrian.com.

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