Texting Addiction: Negatives of too Much Technology
Posted: Saturday, April 24, 2010
by Christopher Pyle
Action Whitewater Adventures
Twenty years ago, while IBM was changing the face of our business world, Apple was busy introducing computers to our kids. In the 1990s, the Clinton Administration further accelerated the internets involvement in every aspect of our lives. There is no denying that technology has benefited our society in massive ways, but there is one ramification that has not been resolved: the effect of new media on children.
Experts have found that technology has led to some more severe side effects, including an increase in schoolyard bullying, ADD and ADHD diagnoses, and social isolation/indifference and awkwardness. According to Goodtherapy.org, " ... a new study performed at MIT has shown that this habit may actually contribute to unhappiness as well as cognitive decline " (August 21, 2009, GoodTherapy.org, Study Finds Too Much Multi-Tasking Can Harm Mental Well-Being).
Parents and teachers can commiserate with each other over their seemingly unreachable students and children. While disengaged teenagers have been a source of frustration for adults since the days when humans were rubbing sticks together to produce energy, the increase in escapism has undoubtedly been accelerated. New media allows kids to chat with their friends at all hours of the day, resulting in a decrease in their perceived need for interaction with adults.
We clearly need to unplug the electronics. So how do we fill that hole?
Sarah Karnasiewicz of Salon.com states that there is " a growing body of scientific research that suggests children who are given early and ongoing positive exposure to nature thrive in intellectual, spiritual and physical ways that their " shut-in " peers do not " ( " Do todays kids have Nature Deficit Disorder? " June 2, 2005). More recently, as noted by Dustin Hurst of IdahoReport.com, Idaho representatives " ...approve Senate Concurrent Resolution 1113...The bill states that a growing body of research indicates that children pay a high physical, mental and emotional price for inactivity resulting in increased childhood obesity, depression, inattentiveness, diminished creativity and ... " Nature Deficit Disorder " " (March 23, 2010).
According to Richard Louv, of Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, the solution to the problem is as simple as reversing the effect of the problem itself. In his interview with Scholastic.com, he states that " We should not think of a childs experience in nature as an extracurricular activity. It should be thought of as vital to childrens health and development...Out in nature, a childs brain has the chance to rejuvenate, so the next time he has to focus and pay attention, perhaps in school, hell do better. "
Sound like something you dont have time for? Or dont want to venture to? Believe it or not, kids dont need an expedition into the Outback to experience nature. The exploration of a local park can prove just as rewarding. Perhaps households can commit to unplugging all electronic media for one night a week. And if a parent is looking to invest in something more, a summer of outdoor summer camps, such as adventure camps, will provide an engaging, unforgettable experience that will leave your kids saying " whats Facebook, again? "
Regardless of the solution, we clearly need to get our kids back into nature. And best of all, we adults get to benefit too!
Christopher Pyle is owner/director of Natures-Classroom which creates a spectacular Adventure Camp experience for youth of all walks of life. Based on the banks of the American River in Northern California, the world-class whitewater rafting experience is just one of the many aspects of this one-of-a-kind summer experience. This Adventure Camp is committed to providing learning experiences that students can carry with them through life.
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