Woah now

Stumbling upon this gadget guide for various ages of children, I realized just how much technology has infiltrated our culture.

I understand that children need to become familiar with technology. Back in the late 80's, when PCs were coming into home use, my dad went out and bought one. The monitor displayed in one shade of light gray blue, and multiple shadings indicated different colors when one was playing games. The printer was dot matrix and screamed like a banshee when spitting out documents. Gradually our household computer evolved from this simple arrangement to 3.25" floppies and ultimately a CD-ROM drive. After that it was better processors, more RAM. I tell this story because I do recognize that having this computer around was important, as my younger brother and I were beginning to use computers at school and increasingly for our schoolwork.

However, I don't think that 6 or 7 year olds should be playing video games. This is probably a product of my upbringing, but I remember being encouraged to read and play outside when the weather permitted when I was that age. Being a child is so important, and play is where children learn to share and make friends. I remember hanging out with the neighborhood kids and running around the block on our bicycles, then swimming at whoever had a pool.
When I talk to friends I've met at college and back in high school, their childhood memories involve being outdoors, active, making friends, going to the beach... not sitting in front of a TV or computer.

That being said, I do own an average amount of technology for an American my age. Desktop and laptop computers, a cell phone, a printer / scanner, and a television with cable are the main components of that for me. But, I have learned that their use must be limited. This must also be the case with children - they need to learn that technology is a tool or a means to an end, but not life itself.