The Balance of Nature and Technology: A Community Effort

Reflections on "The Anxious Generation"

In our digital age, it's crucial to strike a balance between nature and technology for our children. I just got done reading Jonathan Haidt's book, "Anxious Generation," which offers insightful recommendations on when children should be introduced to digital tools. These guidelines don't just consider age, but also maturity and readiness to cope with the responsibilities linked to modern technologies.

Haidt emphasizes the importance of risky play and getting kids outdoors. He argues that overprotective parenting is contributing to a mental health crisis among our young ones. It's critical for their development that they engage with the world around them, take risks, and learn from their experiences. Specifically, I’m passionate about getting kids outdoors and learning about the natural world. It’s this natural tension between technology and nature that’s at play here, but I believe there is a healthy balance to be achieved, considering I’m not a luddite and my business title is Chief Technology Officer.

By the age of 10, children are encouraged to start doing their own laundry, a simple task that instills a sense of responsibility. At 12, they can begin cooking simple meals and might receive their first phone. This gradual introduction to independence and responsibility prepares them for the world of social media, which they can start using at 13.

Beyond 13, the focus shifts to developing more complex skills, such as home maintenance, budgeting, and driving. Part-time work at 16 further enhances their understanding of responsibility and the value of money.

However, these aren't just individual guidelines. As a community, we on the North Shore of Chicago should consider implementing these rules across the board. If some children start using phones and social media before others, it creates a peer pressure and anxiety of its own. Parents need structure to fall back on so they don’t cave when their kids plead about getting a phone and Instagram account too early.

To avoid this, we need to band together as parents. Consistency in our rules is crucial—if these guidelines are not uniformly enforced, they will break down. By collectively adhering to these recommendations, we can work towards a healthier balance of nature and technology for our children, ultimately benefiting our community at large.

I write this with a 1-year old son, so social media isn’t in his near future, but I’d like to set this structure early. So, let's encourage our children to explore the great outdoors, embrace the world around them, and limit screen time. Let's take this journey together, for the sake of our children and our community. Because together, we are stronger.