When it comes to kids and technology, there’s a lot of controversy. Some people find it appalling to see a child with a smartphone or glued to a tablet, while others understand that sometimes that’s all that can calm a kid down or may even feel that kids can learn and benefit from using technological devices.
Whether you’re all for kids using technology or believe it should only be used with moderation and under supervision is up to you, but there are actually a number of strong cases that show that getting kids involved in tech can be beneficial. Best of all, you can do it without letting them have their own devices or getting unlimited screen time.
The Benefits of Getting Kids Involved in Tech
Kids are the future and so is technology. That means that they’ll be working with tech as they grow up and get into a career. Whether they want to be an actor or actress like Daniel Radcliffe, video game designer, movie producer like Steven Spielberg, singer like Ariana Grande, artist, chef, teacher, judge, attorney like Aaron Kelly, or anything else when they grow up, they’ll rely on technology to help them do their job. Getting them involved now offers them a number of benefits including the following:
It enables learning opportunities – Technology isn’t all fun and games. You can download apps and access movies that are educational and can act as good resources for your kids to develop their knowledge and skills. From programs that will help them learn another language to programs that will help them learn to master their own, technology enables and supports learning in many different ways.
It helps them develop different interests – There’s a lot of information out there on the web. While you want your kids to stay far away from some of it, there is a lot of other information that can be used for good. For example, if they’ve started to gain an interest in nature, you can use your tablet or phone to help them look up different animal species, learn how to identify plants, and look at bugs up close. If your kid is fascinated with dinosaurs, you can turn it into a learning opportunity and help them develop that interest further into something more than just a cute obsession.
It can prepare them for the future – Are you familiar with cryptocurrency? While a lot of people have heard of it, not many know what’s happening in the crypto space. Cryptocurrency is gaining popularity, yet people don’t know what ICO ratings are, how to invest in ICOs, or even how to exchange fiat for cryptocurrency. Involving your kids in tech now will help them be better informed, better understand it, and use their knowledge to revolutionize industries and change the world. Imagine how amazing it would be to see today’s kids grow up with a solid understanding of crypto and use that to solve the world’s biggest problems.
Ways to Get Them Involved
If you want to get your kids involved in tech but are worried the effects of letting them use handheld devices at home, or want to get them involved in other ways than just through playing games on smartphones and tablets, there are other ways and opportunities to help get them interested and involved in the technical side of technology. Here are just a few ways you can get your kids involved:
Download apps or enroll them in classes that will help them learn to code – There are a number of different apps and classes that teach kids how to code everything from websites to video games. Although the classes start with basic coding lessons, it helps kids get an understanding of how coding works and what to do. This can help them build up the skills and expertise they need to later get into a career that deals with coding.
Enroll them in a tech-focused camp – Not all tech education has to be on a tablet or handheld device. Rather than a traditional summer camp, you can send your kid off to a STEM-focused camp that teaches them about the different technologies there are, gives them scientific opportunities, and gives them hands-on experience they won’t soon forget.
Let them explore museums – Another way to get them out of the house and off the tech at home, but let them learn about and engage with tech in educational ways is to explore local museums. There are a lot of different technology and science museums throughout the United States where you can take the entire family to learn, explore, and have some fun that could lead your kids to a lifelong career.
Final Thoughts
Technology is everywhere and has become a big part of everyday life. Whether you want to avoid giving your kids too much screen time or are all for giving them free reign on mobile devices, getting them involved in tech in one way or another can help prepare them for the future and get them into careers in which their work can make the world a better place.
How are you getting your kids involved in technology?
