July 2011 – noblemusicnyc

This is a departure from my music related posts, however I am compelled to write about this now.

You are GROUNDED!, Go to bed without supper!, No TV for a week…. Remember those punishments, those admonitions from your parents and how harsh they seemed? Obviously those days are long gone. Realizing that in this generation of children, and this is if you have made the MONUMENTAL mistake as I have of, allowing them access to TV, Internet (Facebook primarily), Playstations, Wii, PSP, DS, 3DS, Cell Phones, Video chats, Texting…has brought about the only punishment that matters to children. NO ELECTRONICS PERIOD!

So get ready to disconnect the coax cable from the TV, take away internet, laptop, desktop, handheld games and yes the cellphone/spartphone which is all of the above. Disconnect the PSP, Wii, Xbox (many kids have all 3) then get ready for World War 3. Better yet add to the punishment, you must read, and dare I say it…GO OUTSIDE and play, Go to a Museum, a bookstore (As long as they still exist), Introduce them to music other than what they hear in the itunes top 10 singles.

Now the most difficult part. You must either explain why these rules do not apply to you. Even more difficult, can you refrain, at least in part, as well? Explain how you too had distractions and obsessions with TV or your (And they will laugh) Atari 2600. Can we as parents lead by example by not watching TV, using our computer only for work, getting outside, excercising, have a sit down family dinner, eating healthy? Some of us are as guilty of falling into the trappings of today’s technology in exactly the same way as our children, DAMN we have not only opened the door but taught and fostered their interest. THERE ARE PARENTS THAT HAVE DONE THE OPPOSITE and never put a TV in their childs room, never allowed video games or internet use, require that they participate in regular outdoor activity, educational activity and contributing to household chores. There are those that assure their kids eat healthy, value the importance of hard work, dedication and education.

I am certainly not the one to preach, yet realizing your mistakes, admitting to them and working to correct them is the goal. All is not lost, in my opinion there is a happy medium. Kids need to understand the today’s technology as well as tomorrows. They will need it to be successful in their future careers. We can explain the value of social media as it applies to the work force, we can explain the benefits of the internet (Beyond Facebook), we can foster a useful and educational use of these “Trappings”.

There is a happy balance that can be found, the challenge is in transitioning your technology addicted child and moreso yourself.

For the record, I was inspired to write this by someone I love very much.

Mistakes are the portals of discovery.