Grandchildren's obsession with 'electronics'

Different days— different ways.

Not always it seems for the better.

But it was ever thus.

I agree WWM2 and with BlueBelle about reading all the time. However I do think children need to get more exercise now, I always wanted to have my head in a book but I was made to go outside and play, walk, ride my bike for some of my leisure time. There does have to be a balance.

What ages are they? They may not know what else to do and need to be shown - or worked with. E.g Painting, drawing, making a card if someone in the family has a birthday coming along, baking together, going out on a walk with a treasure hunt list of things to find, small reward at the end. What about collecting 4 different looking leaves then using the electronics to look up what they are?

I agree wuth Bluebell. In the day we also had our thing. Mine 2as listening to my stereo and tranny in my bedroom. I do have one rule. No phones (and that's for everyone) when we have dinner. My adult children are as bad sometimes!

Snap too, Bluebell.

Another side to all this, is the expertise and careers that can emerge from using technology - my son can think in machine code and works from home with large companies designing and securing websites, and my brother works for an investment bank as a system analyst and designer.

You never know!

Yes we do that. Walks and jigsaws. I also say you have to have a break for 15 minutes after every 45 minutes. My young GS at his birthday lunch said no phones! We had to ask permission!

It starts from birth of course. Babies see phones as just another appendage I think, as we all hold our mobiles in front of them to take pictures or communicate with grandparents etc. from the moment they enter the world. I think they are designed to be addictive and kids just instinctively know what to do with them. It's a bit of a scourge as phones dominate us rather than the other way around.

When I am with my grandchildren (sadly it is rare as they live many miles from me) I go prepared to ‘do’ activities with them. The Works has some great boxed art ideas (painting stones etc) and I have taken plasticine with cutters etc too for the younger ones. Also online shops have great deals on boxes of electronic kits, or ‘make a clock from a lemon’ and such like. I also cook biscuits, pancakes, buns with the kids; I take all my ingredients and kit needed so I am not relying on the family store. Basically I go prepared to be active and the kids join me as I open my boxes....kids like surprises!

I agree BlueBelle.
I am more concerned that they will and up with back/neck problems when older,adults included.
If a photo was taken it would look like a LS Lowry print.

Oddly enough I can remember ‘get your head out of that book’ being said, This of course was in the Dark Ages before computers??.

Furret

Oddly enough this was in my mind earlier when my two grandsons were round at my house. I will have them all day on Tuesday and didn’t relish the idea of them sitting plugged into their machines all day,

I set them the task of finding a board game or something that they might enjoy and which would keep them off their screen for a couple of hours.

They googled and searched. Looked at possibilities. I showed them how to look at star ratings and read reviews. Showed them to check who was a verified buyer on Amazon, etc. I know this was still using tablets but it wasn’t one of those mindless (IMO) games they are addicted to.

Anyway after a good hour or more of research they chose a board game and a Lego construction and ordered them on my account. Hopefully that will occupy them for part of Tuesday.

That was an interesting exercise Furret and one I employ occasionally. I don't know how old your grandsons are, but it works well with the primary aged kids.

What strikes me is that my granddaughters and grandsons share an equal love for their machines. When they go into the toy shop or look in a catalogue, however, they choose completely different physical toys .. boys (lego), girls (ponies).
I can only conclude that these electronic devices cleverly have the same lure for both the male and female brain. That is why they are so omnipresent and popular.

I think it depends on you as parents.Familes by us all go outxon the bikes together.Even the little ones go on the back of dads back.We have a park just up the road with a outside gym.To playareas in the park one equipment pre school and the other 7 and over.Picnic areas within the park.Children familes and teens always in it.Also brilliant for the dog

When we were young we were obsessed with different things. I used to spend hours making clothes got my dolls for instance. I doubt anyone can say they did not spend hours doing their favourite thing. Times change...accept.

11yo DGD2 is seriously dyslexic. Her art is amazing, her handwriting is beautiful but the spelling takes some working out. She has an I pad, complete with spell checker for school and many 'games' designed to encourage those who have dyslexia, but mostly spends her time on-line designing clothes, which she then replicates on her sewing machine. None of this would be possible without the technology which will allow her to function perfectly in her future career.

Well I suppose it’s been said before but if you were strict with your children when they were younger maybe it would have paid off by now.
Example: very young children get phones now and I am talking about primary school children, that is when you can set a time for them to use it. Take them out parks are free encourage to join drama clubs, swimming lessons, football etc. It’s down to the parents.

This is a particlar dislike of mine too. The games are so over coloured, noisy, and often alarming in content. To my huge relief my GC have now been restricted to playing on their ipads only at weekends, when there are lots of other activities going on so time is naturally limited, and they can use/watch the TV or ipad for a certain numer of hours. When they come to stay we have made it clear we want them, and to talk to them and play games, and do not want the ipads in their overnight bag.

BlueBelle

I don’t see it as any different to when I sat with a book on my knee morning noon and night and then went to bed with radio Luxembourg on my tranny under the bed covers

You just described my childhood to a T

It depends what they’re doing with the devices! I use technology a lot too...I find a lot of useful information online from hobbies to work to news....and contacting people that I could never see in the flesh. I think a lot of it is wonderful. I wouldn’t condemn it until you know how they’re passing the time ....but maybe discuss it with the parents as well, after all, they surely have the final say.

I have exactly the same problem ! I try to pick them up and take them somewhere before getting to mine. If they are not on their tablets they want to watch you tube showing people on the game.
I’m hoping they will outgrow it or it will get a bit better when they return to school.

I feel your pain. My dd has strict restrictions with my 15gd and her phone, she has screen time set on it for a certain amount of time a day, and not allowed certain apps, she’s not allowed her phone in her bedroom and not allowed it if family visit. It causes huffs and puffs but she’s used to it now and knows the rules.

my dil is a sah mum, so whilst they like their gadgets, she gets them out and about.

Seen yesterday
Man woman and boy about 7yrs all walking along a country road with each glued to a tablet.
Sad

I don’t feel it’s same as head being in a book. My gd is a real bookworm but is still addicticted to phone. With phone your interacting with people that maybe unsavoury, you have influencers thrown at you from every angle to buy this or look like that. You have access to 24 hour news that could be horrific and one touch of a button could lead you to places you knew nothing about. Only resemblance with a book is fact your ignoring your surroundings.

Happily my two GC are not 'obsessed' with electronics.......yet!
GS is obsessed with counting, whether he's playing with lego bricks, he'll count them as he builds them, he counts the steps when walking.
My GD on the other hand has to strip everything. Teddy is not allowed his clothes, Kristoff is separated from his tabard, the three piece suite is separated from the arm protectors. Could be worse, could it?

My 2 GCs are now in their teens, but one writes codes for online games that he then plays with his friends, a godsend during lockdown as they live miles from anyone.
The other GC will be at college ( let’s hope she goes next week) and uses it for research.
One GC wants to be a solicitor and the other wants to be a Museum Curator.
They have always been avid readers.
Both get excellent grades at their schools.
However, no phones or iPads at the table, ever.