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I am 2/3 through reading "The Winter of Our Disconnect" By Susan Maushart and at every page I keep thinking that every parent of teenagers should read it.
It is the journal of an American single mother who lives in Australia with her 3 teenage children and her decision of removing all technological gadgets (computer, tv, ipods, wii, etc.) from their home for 6 months.
She alternates the everyday journal with statistics and results from different studies on the effects of too much technology on teenagers. Very compelling and informative.
Here is a link to one of the many reviews I found on the book.
Byron Bay Writers Festival - Review of The Winter of our Disconnect by Susan Maushart (http://www.byronbaywritersfestival.com.au/v1/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=642&Item id=52 - broken link)
I have not read it, although I went and read the excerpt. And while the book sounds like an interesting read, and to each his own, as a parent of a teen I think more importantly they should to taught HOW to use technology, how to have balance with it, etc.
All of these gadgets are not horrible things. But with anything, too much is not good. It's all about balance.
My son has learned how to completely restore his Jeep 100% on his own - by researching and learning about it on the internet. It's been a great learning experience for him. As a result, he'd rather be out in the garage piddling with his Jeep than playing xbox (he barely touches it anymore) or watching t.v.
I totally agree, I could not live without either books or music. But you cannot tell me that before the the ipod was invented people would not read or listen to music.
The point of the Experiment, as it was called, was to discover that one could live very well without some of these gadgets and expecially without the total dependance on them that some of us are developing. In addition this family rediscovered basic social skills that they had forgotten.
But I truthfully don't understand how an Ipod is THAT different from a stereo and CDs, with or without headphones.
If the kids are way too disconnected with their earbuds in from the Ipod....maybe limit the use, but why go without completely? I don't get it.
The other things, console games, etc., I can understand, but an Ipod is so innocuous.
Ipods are small, portable, and with the buds in your ears, it's easy to be cut off from those around you.
I love my ipod. But you can't compare them to a stereo at home or, even, a Walkman. And you sure can't compare them to a boom box.
Don't suppose you ever carried a boombox around? Those things were ridiculas. I'm thankful someone invented something smaller.
Last edited by DewDropInn; 03-10-2011 at 02:58 PM..
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