Electronics Overload Diminishes our Focus

Too much time spent with electronic games and programs lowers the attention span, creates an expectation of an instant return. – Joanne Cantor, author of “Conquering CyberOverload”

That’s a quote from an article I read this week that rings so true. “Modern devices keep kids from thinking deep” is a short article in a local newspaper about the impact our electronic gadgets have on our minds.

Do we love our electronic gadgets so much that we’re losing our ability to focus for extended periods of time?

I’ve wondered about that for a while and especially during our attempt at the Screen-Free Week in May. With all the electronic gadgets and distractions that we place in front of our faces, will the world see another Plato or Aristotle? Are we losing our ability to think deeply?

In writing this, I’m the first to admit that I’m guilty myself. I’ve had a “smartphone” long enough to know how much I rely on it to check my email on a very frequent basis. And I know how easy it is to get distracted online with social media and a gazillion sites to explore and so many cool things to read about. But I have to agree that most of the online reading is skimming and quickly shifting attention from one topic to another.

So for our kids growing up in this digitally connected world, how can we teach them to discipline themselves with media consumption and taking the time to contemplate if we’re having a hard time doing that ourselves?

Our young children shouldn’t be spending much time with screens and buttons. They need tactile experiences, manipulation. – Joanne Cantor

I guess that’s another reason why I love board games and card games and think they’re great for families.

Family board games get you away from the electronic devices and generate a need for focusing attention. Physical board games, where you’re sitting around a table, interacting face-to-face typically last longer than the digital games that consume so much of our kids time on handheld devices. Yes, kids can be intensely focused on shooting Angry Birds at pigs to where they are oblivious to the world around them. But it’s much different than they type of thinking that occurs when they’re interacting with others and contemplating their decisions in a strategic board game. Through board games they can learn how to keep that sustained attention focused for longer stretches of time.

Summertime gives us another great chance to get disconnected from our electronic device trappings. With the beautiful summer weather, spend more time outdoors. And when you do, leave the devices behind. Take a walk without headphones. Sit on the grass and chat. Spend the evenings under the stars. And share your thoughts about the wonderful world around you with your kids.

And if you’re looking for more articles about getting your kids away from screen time, check out these recent articles by Jennifer Chait on Growing a Green Family

• “Red Flags Related to Kids + Physical Activity + Tech Gadget Overload”
• “Are people really that addicted to technology?”