Kids & Technology...a lifestyle shift

For this last post on kids and technology, we're going to take a brief look at how the incredible strides forward over the past few years directly impact our children. Going beyond our children's overexposure on Facebook (yeah, I know you put their pictures up there, because I do it too), kids these days will not know a world without email, social networking, the World Wide Web, and all the new-fangled devices that give us nonstop access to all things cyberspace.

For parents, the technological shift can provide incredible opportunities but also present great challenges. You know how difficult it is to get up and get active when Facebook and Twitter keeps sucking you back into the chair. Is it really necessary to fly across the country to visit family when Skype puts them inside our home? Why read Little House on the Prairie when you can build your own world in Minecraft? How can you convince your child he or she needs friends when they have 624 of them on Facebook? Should we be scared of the changes technology will impose on the next generation, or embrace them?

Well, here's a few wise words and information from some local experts...

Physical activity...You've been there. I've been there. Our kids are most certainly there.

Who wants to go outside and run around a bit when there are so many cool apps to mess around with?

Well, as the U.S. fights a rising obesity problem, it's time to get intentional about getting our kids active. Limiting their time surfing online, watching television, and playing video games is a start, but now, with a lifestyle that breeds inactivity, parents must focus on physical activity for our kids, because it doesn't just happen.

Mitch Park YMCA "Y-cade" game

One awesome possibility is your local YMCA. The new one at Mitch Park here in Edmond even uses technology to sweeten the deal. "We have a room set up like a studio space, all with video games that require a child (ages 8 - 13) to be active in order to play," says Kelly Crockett, Health and Wellness Director. She adds that the YMCA offers plenty of affordable physical activity programs for kids of all ages, as well as the opportunity for teenagers to work out with their parents.

Reading and learning...There are things that reading can do for which there is no electronic substitute. Developing critical thinking and empathy, as well as learning good grammar and writing skills, all come from reading books. Books open our eyes to cultures and situations beyond the realm of what Hollywood offers in movies and television, simply by giving the audience such a wide variety of topics and genres. Reading books is crucial.

Now, that isn't to say technology hasn't had an overall positive effect on learning. Not only have electronic books reinvigorated the struggling publishing market and given easy access to so many voices, but the internet allows our children to travel far and wide. And teachers are using technology to make the classroom interactive, engaging this new generation with what is familiar and fascinating to them. "I love seeing the way the light goes on for kids, their possibilities to learn, by utilizing technology in the classroom," says Cordell Ehrich, the principal at Cimarron Middle School here in Edmond. "We need to use these resources to continue to grow."

Social skills...When was the last time you sat down with a teen (or pre-teen) and he or she gave you his or her undivided attention without once glancing down to check a cell phone? Better yet, when was the last time you sat through a conversation without checking your text message, voice mail, Twitter or Facebook account, Pinterest updates, etc. etc.?

Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. And I'm guilty too.

Technology has a way of keeping us connected in ways never before possible, but it doesn't mean we can always substitute sitting behind a computer screen with getting out and experiencing friendship face to face. Our kids are no exception. But we can't cut it off completely. "I think there's a balance," says Guidance Counselor Evan Tims at Cross Timbers Elementary in Edmond. "I have seen some withdrawal, but we are in a different world. Instead of fighting with it, we need to partner with technology." She said technology is our children's world, and when it's used right, it's a good thing.

In summary, I guess I've learned several overriding truths from this blog series on kids and technology. Technology is here to stay. Social media isn't going anywhere either. If we don' learn to use it and implement it into our lives as parents, we will fall behind the times, and we risk losing a critical connection with our children. But (and this is a big one, folks), as children of a different generation, we owe it to our children to teach them the value of face-to-face interaction, reading books, making friendships outside the almighty Facebook, and learning how to compose a proper letter without smiley faces and techy shorthand. We need to teach them that any communication is a good thing, but a conversation in person is always better. We need to stress that being active and getting out--living life--is better than any imaginary life in cyberspace.

And how do we do that? By being an example ourselves.

I hope you've enjoyed this topic. Next month we talk about parental involvement, and how we can be a positive force in our children's lives!

Kids & Technology...what's happening in your neighborhood school

This month, we've been covering the fascinating topic (at least for parents) of how technology is being used by our kids and how it is affecting their everyday life. Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with some experts in the Edmond Public School system.  Like many of you, I came up through school with dry erase boards--you know, with the squeaky markers--and large-as-a-house computers, so I was curious about how things are now.

Well, I discovered we have moved far beyond squeaky markers and super-sized computer monitors. In fact, it's probably good to take a look at what students have at their fingertips, and how teachers are using it, just so you'll have a way to understand what you're asking when you poise that age-old question to your child: "How was your day?"

Smart Boards (and tablets) are in the house. "We have projectors and Smart Boards in every classroom," says Richard Anderson, Director of Technology for Edmond Public Schools. Although I had seen one of these used in a UCO classroom not too long ago, Anderson explained the technology in a way this Smart Board-challenged gal could understand: "It's similar to a large computer touch screen. There's software designed to use for different classes, and it provides a way for the students to do interactive exercises."

And that's not all. Tablets are being implemented into the curriculum as well. And even though Edmond Public Schools doesn't have a one-to-one ratio for tablets, that's actually seen as a good thing, freeing up funds to purchase even better technology as it becomes available. Because, as we know, it changes fast.

Everything's online. By this, I don't just mean that every campus now has WiFi (because they do), or that your child's grades are at your fingertips (because they are), but that so much support materials are now online. Also, you can manage your child's lunch and library accounts, and even communicate with teachers and administration electronically, helping to de-complicate our very busy lives..

"Technology allows our teachers to assist students outside the classroom," states Stacie Vincent, Instructional Technology Consultant for the school system. She mentioned that teachers can upload videos containing lessons that help students work on challenging projects or even lectures the student may have missed. Also, within the classroom, the teacher can take students places they've never been, like the Great Wall of China, through images and videos available online.

Teachers are taking to it, and students reap the benefits. Kids are at school to learn the subject matter, not technology per se, says Anderson, and that's why teachers are provided professional development to learn how technology can help them teach the curriculum, not distract from it. Vincent adds that things like clickers (or "smart response clickers," which allows students to take interactive classroom quizzes) permits teachers to immediately observe where students are struggling, instead of the time lapse between taking a quiz and grading it. Other resources, like online polling and social media, have educational opportunities as well, and Vincent says Edmond teachers have been finding great apps to help them teach their subject matter.

There are challenges, but the school is tackling them. "Implementing technology is a more gradual process than people think," says Anderson. "Teachers must educate themselves first." So, Edmond Public Schools has a curriculum team that helps with professional development and is always on the lookout for ways teachers have discovered using technology not just to facilitate the education process, but to enhance it.

"This is a great way for the school system to simulate what is going on out in the real world," adds Vincent. At the end of the day, technology gives kids more resources, which is a good thing. "We need to speak their language and keep up with the changes, without sacrificing critical thinking,"

And really, isn't that the challenge for us all?

Stay tuned for more next week, when we talk about the impact of technology on your child's lifestyle!

Kids & Technology...let's get down to the stats

Last week, I discussed the fact that my kiddos get more time with my new tablet than I do. In fact, when I looked at apps I had downloaded for myself versus what I had downloaded for them, I even threw myself a little pity party (which does not include cake or confetti, in case you were wondering). I found that about one half of my tablet is filled with squares advertising games like "Puzzlemania!" "ABCs Rock!"  and "Dress Your Puppy!" (Okay, I made those up, but they are pretty similar to what's on there.)

Anyway, tablets are just the next thing in a long string of technology that's saturated our culture since the "Don't drop it or it will break your foot" desktop computers of the nineties.

As mentioned last week, a recent study by Common Sense Media shows that 75 percent of households with kids 8 years of age or younger have access to a computer at home, almost 70 percent have high speed internet, and about 10 percent of homes use ereaders, with the number of those devices growing. Schools have kept pace, with the Edmond Public School system boasting WiFi on every campus, smartboards in every classroom, and a whole truckload of tablets that will be used to enhance the way teachers educate students and keep them competitive in a high-tech world.

So what else does the average kid have access to? Here's some more stats from Common Sense Media's report, Zero to Eight: Children’s Media Use in America 2013 (based on homes with kids 8 years of age or younger):

• There has been a five-fold increase in ownership of tablet devices (such as iPads), from 8 percent of all families in 2011 to 40 percent in 2013. Also, the percentage of children with access to some type of “smart” mobile device at home has climbed from 52 percent to 75 percent in just two years.

• About 70 percent of children have used a mobile device for some type of media activity such as playing games, watching videos, or using apps, which is up from 38 percent in 2011. In fact, today, 38 percent of children under 2 have used a mobile device for media (compared with 10 percent two years ago).

• The amount of time spent using these devices in a typical day has tripled, from an average of 5 minutes a day among all children in 2011 up to 15 minutes a day in 2013.The difference in the average time spent with mobile devices is caused by two factors: expanded access, and the fact that those who use them do so for longer periods of time. Also, among those kids who use a mobile device in a typical day, the average went from about 45 minutes in 2011 to over an hour in 2013.

All of this has led to a decrease in TV time for kids 8 years of age and younger, although that medium still dominates their total media usage time. In fact, TV adoption is almost universal, with 98 percent of homes with children in this age group owning one. And most children (67 percent) also have a video game player at their house.

What does this all mean? Well, I'm glad to see our kids keeping up with the rest of the world. I'm glad they have access to cutting-edge technology. But, like you, I have my concerns. What about time spent reading, something that's proven to build critical thinking and lead to success in school and beyond? What about playtime? Physical activity? Socialization?

Well, we'll talk about those things too. Stay tuned...

Kids & Technology...better get on board because the train is chugging

A few weeks ago, I got a tablet for my anniversary. I think it's pretty cool. I mean, I'm faintly aware that it possesses some rather neat capabilities. At least, that's what I've seen from afar.

Why? Because since I got it, my children have kidnapped it.

They play puzzles, matching games, and princess dress-up. They paint, take care of virtual puppies, and help Curious George fire meatballs out of a cannon. My daughter likes to use Word to write the alphabet in crazy fonts, and my son enjoys matching sounds to various animals and vehicles (emphasis on the vehicles).

So that's good, right? I mean, what kind of parenting am I practicing here? The progressive kind? The lazy kind? What?

Well, I'm in the same boat with a lot of other folks. According to a recent study by Common Sense Media, almost 75 percent of U.S. households with kids 8 years of age or younger have access to a computer at home, almost 70 percent have high speed internet, and about 10 percent of homes use ereaders, with the number of those devices and tablets growing. In fact, I would imagine tablets will soon be the norm, and with kids now having access to them in many school systems (including Edmond Public Schools), tablets may become as much a part of our everyday life as the television, computer, and smart phone.

So, parents, I'm going to do some research on your behalf. For the next few weeks, I'm going to get  down to the nitty gritty on the subject of technology and kids, and I hope to help you figure out where you stand on the spectrum of how much is too much.

July 17 - We'll be discussing the  current trends in technology, figuring out what kids have access to these days and how quickly things are changing.

July 24 - I'll relay some great information from the Edmond Public School system on the current state of technology used in the classrooms and what it is doing for your child.

July 31 - Is there a dark side to all this? How about the impact on children's activity levels? Their social interaction? What is out there that will combat the possibly negative aspects of a world gone tech?

So stay tuned. And I'm going to go find that tablet while the kids are otherwise occupied!

Fireworks - fun, fascinating, and highly flammable

About two weeks ago, the firework stands opened on every other corner near my home. A day or two after that, my post-9:00 evenings consisted of popping, whistling, and small-scale explosions. "Yep. It's begun," I grumbled.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am completely, 100 percent in love with the Fourth of July. I am 99 percent in love with firework shows (or, at least I was until I had tiny tots who need to sleep in order not to become miniature monsters of meltdown). And on the Fourth, I am all about the colors and excitement of fireworks. I truly, truly am. But where I live, the neighborhood provides about three weeks of firework shows, and I tell ya, by the time the Fourth arrives, I merely heave a big sigh of relief.

Finally, some sleep, I think to myself.

But, as I discovered last year, the loud noise is really the least of my concerns when it comes to fireworks. A few days after celebrating the Fourth, one of the houses in our neighborhood burned down because of fireworks in their trashcan. I'm not going into particulars of how devastating it was for the family (thank goodness no one was hurt), but it made me realize that firework shows can come with a price no one wants to pay.

So, without completely raining on your parade, here are some tips for doing the Fourth safely.

1. Reconsider your personal show. If you live in the Edmond city limits, this is a no brainer. Fireworks are prohibited. The Edmond Liberty Fest will have a spectacular show anyway, so no need to spend hundreds of dollars trying to outdo them. If you do live in an area where fireworks are allowed, just remember that you are taking a risk to yourself and children, as well as to your home. Mike Barnes, Chief of Fire Prevention for Edmond, suggests you donate the money you'd spend on fireworks and enjoy the free show downtown. If you live in the city, you'll avoid a citation, and if not, you'll still enjoy a great show while doing some good.

2. Take precautions. If you are going to shoot them off in a legal area. just remember to take precautions. The National Council on Fireworks Safety provides a quiz to test your knowledge of firework safety. If you have questions, speak to your local fire department. And remember, remember to keep those kiddos away from the fireworks. Don't get caught up in the moment and decide it might be fun for them to light one. The fireworks display is excitement enough.

3. Dispose properly. When I spoke to Chief Barnes about proper disposal, he only gave me one tip: drop your expended fireworks at the fire station. Based on our neighbors' experience last year, I thought it was appropriate. Call the Edmond Fire Department non-emergency line (405-216-7300) and ask to speak with a fire prevention officer. They will direct you where to take your expended fireworks, most likely to the firehouse at 5300 E. Covell in Edmond. Even fireworks soaked in water can become unstable, Barnes said, so don't take any chances.

Here's to a fun (and safe) Fourth!