My daughter is 5 years old.  Most of the time it is a delightfully wondrous age to witness in her.  Other times I wonder what on Earth has taken over the mind of my child.  She seems to spawn into a wannabe teenager with moods and demands that are well beyond her few years.

What happened to the excitement over the cheap toy in the cereal box and playing with Barbies until you were 12?  I know I played with Barbies until middle school.  Sparingly, but still.

The children of today are quite different.  They were born into the techno age.  No longer are their first photos taken on 35mm and developed by wishful parents hoping there’s something worth while on the film without blurs or redeye.  Rather, today lives are captured and simultaneously shared with thousands all over the world.  Information flies at our fingertips and the innocent sponges we spawn soak it all in.

The instant information gratification feeds their minds in amazing ways and has trained it to behave differently as a result.  I point to the instantaneous answers as the problem.  Sure I grew up with the internet too, but I served my time watching the hourglass icon load and flip with a patience-testing prance on my monitor.  And here I am today, a well-adjusted, successful adult who has self control.  Is it possible to provide the latest and greatest for our children while making sure we give them tools to become adults that aren’t detriments to society?  I think so.

No matter how hard you try to keep them from being the next fiend with their face in a phone, it happens.  It hurts trying to convince little ones to break their electronic binge and go play with their toys.

Toys.  Those things that require imagination and effort?!  Oh my what a task to a toddler suddenly.  Prying my daughter away from the tv or phone while she laments over her loss is just plain awful.  In fact, those times are some of my most unwelcome memories.  Only made worse when she scoffs at her piles of pricey toys all practically brand new.

How to cope with it you ask?  Simple.

Well, I found the cure simply by mistake to be honest.

I keep a time/game/show limit on the use of technology.  Once the electronic benefits have expired, whatever device she is glued to is taken/turned off.

Cue now the protesting preschooler.

Then I leave her in her room to let her get her pout out.  On my way to the door I do a little something to get her attention.  I’ll make a comment about how her ponies look lonely on the shelf, or her tea in the teapot is getting cold, or maybe she should check and see if her stuffed cat is hungry because I can’t remember the last time she was fed.  Anything that will bring new concern to her mind and some imagination to her heart.

It takes a few minutes, but that natural curiosity beats inside and wants to check out the topic I’ve tantalized her with.  Soon, I hear her squeaky voice and sneak up to see her hard at play.  Then I either join her or set to my household business satisfied that I have done my job as a mom well once again.

While the appeal and the ease of entertaining the little ones with our devices is here to stay, we can maintain control.  In my house we have developed rules over their use and there is no straying from it no matter how much she fights or how easy it would be for me to give in.  Find a groove that works for you and yours and stick to it.  It can be done and you can do it!

It may not be easy all the time to get those electronics out of their sights.  Just slow it down and think like I do:

No amount of sassy remarks or glares that could rival any 15-year-old can hurt me when I am swollen with pride that my little girl is still 5 inside.

In the title photo my little girl tucked her dolls into her slippers because they were “campin in their sleepin bags.”  In this photo she put all the animals on the farm and the “house pet ponies” to sleep while the family stayed up for a middle of the night snack.  Isn’t imagination refreshing?

 

Does your child’s electronic addiction make you crazy too?  What devices plague your home and what methods work to get them to take a break?

 

Discipline your son and he will give you rest; he will bring delight to your heart.  Proverbs 29:17