Last weekend, after a lengthy soccer tournament my three children competed in, my family and I decided to join another family at a local restaurant for some food and fun. After eating, we decided to hang out in an area where the adults could continue chatting and the kids could play. Between the parents and the children, we had several electronic devices with us that the kids began using to play games. I noticed an older couple looking at our children disapprovingly. I then overheard…
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[membership]the woman comment that she could not believe that we let our children play video games so much. It took all I could muster not to respond. Our children had just been outdoors for the last 10 hours playing soccer and enjoying the outdoors with their friends between games.
While confronting the woman was tempting, I ultimately refrained. Her comments were upsetting, but her words also reminded me of how judgmental we can all be when observing other parents’ actions. I know that I too find myself disappointed and disapproving when I see kids playing electronic games at restaurants instead of engaging in conversation with their parents or others at the table. They too may just need a break from a busy day, and it is the only time the kids play electronic games.
We are not here to judge. We want to raise awareness and inform parents of the negative impacts technology use can have. Our goal is to help families establish a healthy, balanced household. The Technology Wellness Center will treat you with the same dignity we would want for our families and ourselves. We hope to foster a supportive and open community, and provide valuable information along the way.[/membership]