The Children of Tomorrow

by calebgardner on February 22, 2012

Photo by UrbanTickle

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A few weeks ago I wrote a post about the importance of technology breaks to teach kids how to be still. Quiet self-reflection is going to be a skill not many children have in our technology-obsessed culture. But the integration of technology into children’s everyday lives isn’t all negative. In fact, it’s having some interesting side effects.

A study released last month from Latitude Research says that children view technology inherently differently than their adult counterparts. They see it as something fundamentally human, easily assimilated into everyday life – as opposed to adults, who view it as separate from humanness. Kids are viewing technology as “moving from acts of knowledge transmission toward acts of exploration, collaboration, and creation.”

The study specifically focused on the children’s reactions to having robots as part of everyday life, and showed how willing they are to integrate them into their social circles. The robots used in the study became natural members of their peer groups, and actually helped them to fit in. The children also felt more confident when working on class assignments with the help of robots.

The ease with which children are embracing technology is not a surprise to me, given how effortlessly my son has embraced things like our iPad for learning as well as entertainment. Already he is being imbued with a sense of knowledge at his fingertips, of learning as a natural part of everyday life. I get a sense of nostalgic envy when I realize he’ll never know the joys and pains of cassette tapes or the Dewey Decimal System, but if technology is embedding learning as part of his essential human experience, I’m all for it.

Ultimately, the study concludes that new technologies are creating the possibility of closing the gap between learning and play. Kids are quick to see the two as overlapping activities, even as we pry them apart through compartmentalizing their lives to ridiculous degrees. I want to see Miles continue to associate the two together, and make learning (and playing) a part of his life for the long haul.

How do your children use technology? Do you think they see it as a fundamental part of being human? Are you okay with that?

More Posts From Caleb

Caleb Gardner is an amateur father and husband who writes at The Exceptional Man and dabbles in photography, design, and music. When listening to the cacophony of modern-day America, Caleb prefers a side of Scotch. He calls Chicago home, and in winter, less-nice things.

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The Aesthetic of Funk With Xenobia Bailey

by sabrinasgordon on February 22, 2012


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Even amidst the midday chaos of NYC, you can’t miss her — the signature cap, crocheted work dress, and vintage glasses are unmistakably Xenobia Bailey, the singular and prolific fiber artist. Her work is extraordinarily imaginative and diverse — crowns, mandalas, dresses, sculptures, even teas — but they’re all an articulation of what she calls the “aesthetic of funk.” Xenobia says that she learned to “funk it together” by watching the women in her community beautify their environments with limited resources. She has continued to preserve and extend that tradition in her extraordinarily diverse art pieces and clothing.

Sabrina Schmidt Gordon has been committed to cultural and social issues documentary filmmaking for over 15 years. Her next artist profile is the NEA-funded feature length documentary, BaddDDD Sonia Sanchez, exploring the life and work of the renown poet and activist. For more information, visit her website.

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How to make recycled Valentine candy heart box wall art

February 22, 2012

If you were gifted heart shaped boxes of chocolates this past Valentine’s Day and have polished off its contents but don’t have the “heart” pun intended to throw out the pretty boxes why not make some wall art. Check out …

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Featured Seller: Wild Life Prints

February 22, 2012

Photo by Wild Life PrintsTell us a bit about yourself.
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It’s So Pinteresting! Pinterest Etiquette for Etsy Sellers

February 22, 2012

Pinterest really and truly is the up and coming NEW way to get yourself out there into social media. Have you considered it? Are you a part of the fun?

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How-Tuesday: Paper Leaf Topiary

February 21, 2012

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The Local Butcher Shop

February 21, 2012

Photo by Danielle TsiI often accompanied my grandmother on her daily trips to the market as a child; it was an experience of which I wasn’t very fond. It was hot and humid, replete with strong odors of raw meat mingled with the briny notes of dri…

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Not a Sell Out. Not a Handout. Just Handmade. . . in the USA.

February 21, 2012

When you buy handmade, you are buying a piece of art and a piece of American culture. You are supporting a local company that stimulates our local economy!

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Josh Ritter’s “Love Is Making Its Way Back Home”

February 21, 2012

The first time I saw Josh Ritter perform was in a small venue in Arlington, VA. I was there because of a handwritten postcard I’d received days earlier, suggesting I come to the show. That night, in a small venue that doubled as a restaurant, h…

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March Meet & Make in California

February 21, 2012

Photo by dropclothHello, Los Angeles and San Francisco! Got the itch to stitch? Clear your calendar for the evening of Thursday, March 1, for you are invited to a fun night of meeting and making at your local craft museum. Read on for all the details o…

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