Generation iPad

With all the technology being produced today, and the readiness with which it's being marketed, it's no surprise that kids have become a large portion of the consumers. I mean, a young customer is a customer for life, right? The effects of today's technology-obsessed children haven't been lost on me. As soon as I walk in the door and greet the kids I babysit for, they scream, "Can we play with your phone?!" Now, I love my Blackberry Torch too, but when I was eight, I couldn't have cared less. I didn't even get a cell phone until I was fourteen, and here I have a nine year old inputting her contact info. My aunt just got a Macbook Air, and not only do her kids use it more than her, but they know how to work it better. My twelve year old cousin just got an iPad for her birthday. When I was a kid, we could only spend half an hour a day on the computer that my entire family shared. I hardly watched TV except cartoons on Sunday mornings, and I listened to the only two CD's I had on an outdated CD player.


Now, some say, why is it a bad thing that children are being introduced to the newest technologies at such young ages? Some even argue that it's good, because in order to be competent in today's world, you need the use of technology. However, consider this. Playing on their iPads, laptops, iTouchs, and Blackberrys are all these kids want to do. You have to literally drag them away from their glowing screens. Being forced to play outside or play an old-fashioned board game is even seen as a punishment. When I was a kid, we played freeze tag with the neighbors, tromped through the woods, and made tree forts. We rollerbladed, biked, and skateboarded down the road. When it was raining, we brought out garbage can covers and made mud slides in the yard. We played house, school, hide and seek, and even made up some of our own games. All our activities centered around interacting with others, enjoying the outdoors, exercising, and using our imaginations. Does playing Mario Cart on a Nintendo DS do all that for kids these days?

The great part of being young is that you're free to do nothing but play. It's when you're supposed to be using and expanding your imagination and creative side, and exploring games and different sports to see what you like. You're not supposed to be glued to the couch, furiously tapping away on a keypad or controller. Believe me, I'm not against electronics. I think they're great, and they're a constant part of my life now. But, I wouldn't trade my technology-free childhood for anything, and I think kids these days are definitely missing out.

Riley Stauffer (@riley__cyrus)