Gadgets vs. Traditions: What Are Your Thoughts?

Fast Company Magazine has an interesting article on devices, sites, and applications for children. The title of the article is called "A" is for App.

My cousin sent this article to a list of her family and friends who have young children. She thought that the article was impactful, and indeed it was. Within minutes, I started receiving comments like:

"Giving gadgets to kids inhibits their interpersonal skills and it stunts the development of creativity."

"All we're raising is a bunch of smart, fat, and non-creative brats that don't know how to entertain themselves when there's no electricity or batteries around."

"When making road trips...we need the apps...but when I'm at home and tired...you better go outside and play on that playset that I paid for."

"What about being creative...by taking scraps of wood and building a fort or playing a good old-fashion game of dodge ball or making toys with sticks? Instead of moving your fingers on an iPhone, move your entire body."

"We're growing a nation of softies, I tell you! Sure they're smart, but they don't know how to go down to the creek and bring back a couple of fish for dinner".

"Dads can finally get involved in the learning process since they love gadgets!"

The majority of these comments are by men who disapprove of this computerized learning style. The men definitely want to stick with the traditional way of learning, while the women are more open to trying a variation of applications to enhance learning.

As a mom, I personally like the tune of the dads. Yes, applications are powerful and can assist in the development and reinforcement of learning, but I need my children to feel, see, enjoy, and touch the elements of learning the old-fashion way. For instance, at Mud Island in Memphis, Tennessee, my youngest son got a chance to walk an assimilated version of the Mississippi River, and today, he brought home a homemade map of the United States of America. My oldest son says he learns better the old-fashion way. He finds this way to be more enticing and interesting. Of course, my husband concurs.

In an age where we all own a laptop in my family, we still feel connected to traditional learning methods. What about you and your family?