The smartphone and other mobile online devices. I would say they are important because they have been pretty insidious. Without this guinea pig generation realizing, these nefarious gadgets were able to significantly impact human “wiring” and behavior.
I initially thought of answering general-access Internet, and while it is definitely incredibly significant, its introduction did not have the same “rabid” effect as the smartphone.
Having access to the Internet through a desktop or a laptop with LAN cables may have been the best place to stop the progress. WiFi and data connection make the online world with all its distractions too accessible.
I feel like nonstop access to social media, entertainment, information, communication, etc., especially among children, led to the deterioration of general etiquette, cognitive capabilities, and other standard behavioral norms.
To mitigate the harmful effects of the online world’s ubiquitous encroachment into our daily lives, we have to be intentional about being offline. My daughter and I frequently talk about living as though we were stuck in the ’80s or ’90s, which, I must confess, sounds so nice, and not only because of the nostalgia factor. So many GenZs, including my kids, agree that those were better times, and they’d much rather be growing up in that era.
I’d like to take it even further and have a completely “analog” day – not only would we be offline, we’d be completely “unplugged.” Here are some screen-free items that you can put in an accessible box or basket and turn to when you want to detox yourself from the digital world.
- Books and magazines
- Crossword and word search puzzles
- Jigsaw puzzles
- Playing cards
- Board games
- Arts and crafts materials
- Sewing kit (for mending, needlepoint, embroidery, etc.)
- Yarn (plus crochet hooks or knitting needles)
- Recipe cards
- Stationery, postcards, pens, and postage stamps (time to have a penpal!)
- Toys (jump rope, jacks, pick-up sticks, bubbles, Lego, Nerf gun, etc.)
- Seeds (plus a small gardening kit, if you don’t regularly garden or are limited to indoor plants)
- Binoculars (for backyard birdwatching – or spying, the Harriet kind š )
- Journal or notebook
- A small musical instrument (recorder, ukulele, egg shaker, etc. – maybe we’ll allow a CD or mp3 player for the sake of those who are not inclined to play or learn to play)
Of course, it’s even better if you simply choose to go and spend time outdoors, preferably in nature.
What else would you include in an analog box?
This Small Life 