Though you may feel like your smartphone, tablet, GPS and all of the other gadgets you have in your life are an important part of your existence today, the feeling is magnified even more when it comes to the teenagers of today. Teens today have grown up with this technology being a standard part of their lives while most adults have learned to adapt it into their own lifestyle. Because it has been so ingrained into the culture of teens today they come to rely on it much more than other parts of the culture, perhaps to the point where it becomes their sole focus all of the time. Learning to rein in your teens and their gadget use can be important in helping them to learn to navigate proper use of devices.
Not Completely Their Fault
While many parents would like to believe that a teenager’s use of all of these devices like smartphones, laptops, televisions, tablets and all of the other devices seems to have sprung from nowhere, the fact is that the use and behavior cannot be completely blamed on the teen alone. Parents bear a great deal of the responsibility for introducing these devices, often at a young age, to help pacify and entertain children along the way. This behavior then becomes learned and expected and is just a part of their regular life, so much so that when it is inhibited or you try to curtail it you will get resistance. So much of technological use today is pushed upon teens at school and at home (having a cellphone seems a necessity today to check on their safety) that it is only natural that they have become so accustomed to using these devices all of the time.
Checks and Balances
The real key then becomes trying to teach your teens the proper time for using devices and the proper times to put them aside. There does not need to be a constant use of devices throughout the day, particularly during times that have been set aside as family time, such as meals or other times during the day or evening. Everyone, teens included, should be expected to put devices away so that the family can interact with one another. You may also want to put restrictions on time usage, particularly during school days, to make sure that schoolwork, chores and the like get the proper attention they need.
It is important to note that your children are going to learn behavior by modeling what you do, so you can set a good example by not using the devices such as your smartphone, tablet, TV or computer all of the time when it may not really be necessary. Find other things that you can all do together to take time away from the technology use so you can be with each other and enjoy the personal time and experience while you can. Learning this behavior now will make it much better for them when they are older and have children of their own doing the same thing.