Hi, y’all!
I hope life has been treating you well.
I’ve been busy with our middle school volleyball season starting and coaching every day after school!
We finally formed our team and I’m excited for a great season! I’m also happy to say that both girls made their grade’s team, so I am a proud mom!
Something that has been on my mind lately is the fear that kids these days are losing the ability to socially interact.
We’ve had a few things happen at the school lately and even in my own classroom I’ve witnessed a few things where kids honestly don’t know how to handle themselves in situations.
I blame it on technology, I blame it on parents not making conversations a priority, I blame it on everything in this world taking God out of the equation, etc.
Then, I was scrolling on FB the other night and came across this post:
Yesterday, I shut down class about 5 minutes early and told my students I wanted them to just sit and talk to one another. Several of them immediately opened their laptops and began navigating to their favorite computer game.
I said, “No, no laptops. I want you to have face-to-face conversations right now.”
After a collective groan went up, I observed something both wonderful and alarming. For the next few minutes, a couple of tables came alive with conversation. They looked at each other in the eyes and talked with great enthusiasm and interest. It was beautiful to watch and listen to.
However, many students were deflated. They did not know what to do without some sort of entertainment from a device. A couple of them put their heads down and avoided eye contact with anyone. I went around the room to those students and tried to engage with them. Some of them mustered a few words, but most didn’t know what to do.
I share this story as a wakeup call for parents, grandparents, and guardians. It’s tragic to me that a large percentage of today’s youth do not know how to have real conversation, but it’s not their fault. It is our responsibility as adults to lead by example and hold our kids accountable. Unplug every day, talk, and listen to your children. Getting lost in a device does not help them cope with and overcome the things they’re going through mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. All it causes is isolation and depression. They need relationships; they need you.
I plan on doing it again today.
WOW! This spoke straight to my heart!
We, as the adults, have to do better!
I, as Elizabeth and Emily’s mom, need to do better!
The older I get the more I’m going back to old fashioned ways where I love no technology, eat supper together as a family, play games together, watch TV, and be content.
I challenge you if you have children still in your home to really talk with them. No screens around. Teach them the value of a conversation and how to handle themselves socially. They will thank you, I promise!
Hope your Monday is great! I plan to try to blog every day this week! Wish me luck!
Such a great idea for your students and good reminders for me as an adult too!
Yes, very much so for me too!
My husband and I were just talking about how all this virtual schooling isn’t helping either. We are often told by doctors, nurses, librarians, etc. that we come into contact with that they can tell our kids have been homeschooled because they don’t hesitate to talk, speak up, and make eye contact. I often feel like that is a better compliment than anything having to do with their intelligence level.
That is a great compliment for sure!
This is so true. Back when I was teaching (in the stone age…ha, ha), our biggest problem was trying to control talking. Now it is the opposite. I remember a teacher telling us at the high school open house, that his biggest problem was getting the students to talk and interact (it was a health class that needed discussion.) The student’s default mode now is just staring at their phone. I see it in my kids, but not as bad as it could be. I feel blessed that I was able to raise my kids without much technology at least through their middle school years. Now it is just everywhere all the time. PS. I saw a type 1 diab. commercial on the superbowl last night and thought of you! 🙂 Have a good day!
You are totally right about it being the opposite problem now. It’s honestly so sad! I can’t tell you happy Elizabeth was to see that Dexcom commercial during the Super Bowl! I am so glad they are raising awareness for it. 🙂
Jen, what an awesome post!!! I could not agree with you more. Of course, I grew up a long, long time ago and I see such value in engaging with others and the value it serves down the road. Hats off to you. I’m about to go and share this on FB.
Thank you so much!
I love that you shared this, Jen! SUCH an important thing to be discussed!!! My kids don’t have phones yet, and last week when I dropped our 12yo off at Youth Group, I was telling Joe I had to walk back in to give her something she forget in the truck and it broke my heart to see her standing with a group of her friends that all had their phones in their hands, their faces were down looking at them and scrolling. They weren’t even talking to each other and so with a child that doesn’t have a phone… which I know is rare… they now feel left out. It’s really sad. I am so glad that you are seeing an issue like this and trying to make a difference in your classroom!
This breaks my heart for Willow! You are right though, it’s such an awful problem with kids. Breaks my heart!