I don't have kids yet, but sometimes I like to think about how I will raise my kids when they arrive. Being a lover of technology, I would provide my kids with as many tech gadgets as possible to help them become tech-aware. And I thought a technology pioneer like Steve Jobs would have done the same thing. But as it turns out, that was not the case.
According to an article by New York Times, Steve Jobs didn’t let his kids use iPads, and for good reason too.
A New York Times reporter asked Steve Jobs, “So your kids must love the iPad?”
And he responded:
“They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.”
Reports say that there is actually a trend of tech executives and engineers who prevent their kids from using technology. Some of them even send their kids to non-tech schools, where computers aren’t found anywhere, they focus only on hands-on learning.
All these may not make sense at first, but when you think about how you or someone you know is addicted to his/her phone or any other piece of tech, it becomes clear that If we expose our children to these technologies at an early age, we may be setting them up for incomplete, handicapped lives without imagination, creativity, and wonder.
Most of us played outside with each other at an early age, because we didn't have smartphones and laptops to play games and send texts on. We absorbed information through books and socialization with other humans because Google search didn't exist.
I believe learning in different ways has helped us become more well-rounded individuals. Steve Jobs had it right with regard to his kids. So, instead of worrying about how I might be robbing my kids of the ability to stay on top of technology at a very early age if I don't give them a smartphone or other tech gadgets, I now worry that I may be robbing them of a healthier, less dependent development if I do give them these gadgets.
When I think about how I will raise my kids now, I think about playing outside with them, surrounding them with nature, and taking adventurous trips; they might hate me, but I believe in time they will absolutely thank me for it because now that I'm older I'm grateful I was able to do these things when I was a kid.
What do you think? Let's hear your thoughts in a comment below.
