What did our parents do when we were bored? I'm sure they didn't just hand us an iPad. I remember having an iPad, but I was never on it obsessively.

Yet, when you hand an iPad to a kid now it seems like you can never get them off of it. Parents use this to their advantage because it gives them a break, but has technology made parenting easier or more reliant? We’ve all heard about the effects of excessive amounts of screentime, yet parents don’t seem to be shying away from it. Are parents now less involved with their kids?

The Role of a Parent

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It is not a hidden secret that parenting is one of the most difficult jobs! I mean they barely get any breaks, and kids are either a ball of energy or a ball of tears, which requires parents to spend their energy on their kids' needs and wants. Not to mention, they are already probably running on low sleep and have demanding jobs.

The role of a parent is to nourish your kids in the best way, whether that includes teaching them about the world, how to take care of themselves, and even manners. If you are a stay-at-home parent, your job is to be with your kid basically 24/7 from the moment they wake up to bedtime. It's one way to make sure you can observe your child each step of the way. To know what they are consuming because eventually it affects the way they see the world, the words they use to communicate, and the overall knowledge they'll have.

I don’t have a kid, but I do have a little sister. The great thing about that is I can still have my own life! I can enjoy her cuteness and excitement but then leave the moment she gets all cranky and tearful.

My mom, on the other hand, has to find ways to calm her down, make her stop screaming, and carry her non-stop all while trying to get through her daily chores. Now, I can only imagine what two working parents have to deal with. I'm sure they are solutions like nannies and day care but a cheaper and quicker way would be to hand them a device.

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The Role of Technology

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Technology is meant to be used as a tool, but now we use it as a source of entertainment. It's where we read the news, watch YouTube, TikToks, and so much more. There's no way anyone can be bored when the world is right at their fingertips and even if that were to happen, it doesn't stop them from clicking on the next video.

That’s the difference between television and iPads because though you still had a lot of options on televisions, your show probably came on at a certain time and if you missed it, you most likely had to wait a while until the episode played again. There was also a limit to the channels targeted towards children such as Disney, Disney XD, Nickelodeon, PBS Kids, and Cartoon Network. You get the point, it was a set program, and you couldn’t take the television with you everywhere you went.

However, now with technology like iPads and phones we can take them everywhere and there are a few restrictions. A toddler could click on any type of video, if not under parental supervision, and see things that aren't meant for their age group. Although YouTube videos can be educational, most videos that catch children's attention are skits and foolish things. It keeps them intently watching with the video and sound effects.

Parents no longer have to put their children in front of a television in a set place or wait until their child's favorite show comes on. Instead, they can hand them an iPad and let them watch till their hearts content. Of course, there's screen time, but who wants to deal with screaming children because all of a sudden, they can't use their iPad?

I think parents realize how captivated children are by technology and give them time to do what they need without having to play the entertainer. Instead, Ms. Rachel or Ryan’s World can do that.

I also believe children see everyone else on their device whether it's their parents taking a work call, their siblings doing work on a computer, or even at school. Someone always has a device in their hand.

The Excessive Usage

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There is nothing wrong with letting your kid watch their iPad, but when parents rely on it too much it becomes more than just a break for them. Based off of Lurie Childrens' article, ‘Screen Time Statistics Reveal How Parents Use Screens as Babysitters, Educators, and Entertainment Tools’ stated, “The majority (81%) of children under 13 now have their own device, according to parents. More than half (59%), began using screens by the age of three.” The title alone shows the extent technology is being used in parenthood now.

But it's not only about parenthood but childhood; what kind of childhood is it if since you were three years old you were watching random videos? Starting off this early can cause addiction. I mean adults who just started using technology are addicted and don't even get me started on teenagers!

It was stated that more than half (54%) of parents have felt their child is addicted to screens. This caused other concerns such as, reduced attention spans, behavioral issues, weakened social skills, and so forth. It's a complete shift from the way Gen Z grew up but it was a starting foundation for the new wave of technology.

Conclusion

In conclusion, technology is taking away important development time from children and their parents. It seems to make sense to parents to allow them to get used to this new age of technology because after all they’ll have to use it at one point; it’s everywhere! But then shouldn’t home be a place for children to detox from all the screens?

I really do wonder how parents managed back in the days when there wasn't even television. Parents are now using technology as a replacement for parenthood but in that process, they are also shifting the meaning of childhood. It seems as though technology has made parenting more efficient, but do the cons outweigh the pros?