It’s funny how you feel your children make you feel like you are morphing into your parents. Back in the day, and I am talking about the ‘Walkman’ day……my parents were dazzled by new fangled gadgets. Listening to Michael Jackson’s Thriller tape (yes! I said ‘tape’) on full volume in my brother’s Sony Walkman (yes! I said my ‘brother’s’ Walkman, because I didn’t have one) whilst singing along at the top of my not-so-well trained voice, the world was perfect. My brother had been working in the US over the summer and bought the most up-to-date gadgets. No one could top what he had. I repeat, the world was truly perfect.
Not for one second could I, as a teen, possibly conceive of a time when technology would be so advanced, that the 21st century’s answer to a Walkman would be similar in size to a credit card, and which, when used when exercising would not cause the songs to ‘jiggle’….easy peasey.
The next best invention was E-mail….WOW. The internet – WOWer.
Then came an hiatus in my tecchie knowledge and experience. I resisted mobile phones with the ferocity of a lioness protecting her cubs. In my day it was cool to be different. It was all about individuality; not conforming. We stood up for what we believed in.
Yet here I am – throwing all 21st century gadgets at my kids. Well, throwing is an exaggeration. Given the kids’ catching skills, that would be sheer foolishness!
I am by no means queuing up at 3AM to get the latest in technology, but when the rush subsides, I am there, more because I think it is critical that my kids adapt to technology from an early age than because I think it ‘cool’. So much for the principles of my youth!
But seriously, if an iPad can be an educational tool and make numbers, letters etc. more interesting, then I am willing to try.
It goes without saying my kids are phenomenal when it comes to playing Temple Run, Fruit Ninja, Ninja Jump……they dabble in the educational stuff. I believe their brains are being wired to ‘tech thinking’ and somewhere along the line, they are learning something.
All I know is that despite hours of practice on Temple Run, Fruit Ninja, Ninja Jump, I am rubbish compared to my kids who are relatively new to this planet. Yes, it is baffling. Now I feel like my parents when I was lauding it over them with my brother’s Walkman……..I blame my fat fingers and a very sensitive iPad touch screen!!!!!
