Helen's blog: A change of heart

Recently I've been pondering our 4 year old daughter's increasing awareness of technology and desire for ‘screen time’.

As a parent, I freely admit I’m not an inspiring role model when it comes to technology. I’ve always been a reluctant convert - I held out against a mobile phone longer than anyone I knew, and only recently, declared loudly that I'd never get a tablet (guess what I'm writing this on now). While I’m competent at the computer for work, I’m clueless about our home network and data storage.  I am borderline paranoid about our daughter becoming dependent on a screen for entertainment or as a teenager, surgically attached to her social media feeds and lacking the skills needed to thrive in the 'real' world. 

My fears aren't without grounding: Ofcom’s report last year into children's use of media found that on average, 3-4 year olds spend 27 hours a week watching TV, using the Internet or playing computer games.  The amount of time 12-15 year olds spend online (excluding TV) has more than doubled since 2005 to almost 19 hours a week. That strikes me as a lot. Furthermore, my fellow Generation X-ers and I are the first 'high tech' parents wrestling with concerns such as online bullying, disturbing content and unhealthy media attitudes to body image. For example 82% of children aged 13-18 have seen or heard online hate directed at others in the past year, and 24% have been victims themselves (source: the UK Safer Internet Centre).

However, an event hosted by BT that I attended last autumn persuaded me to look at the issue differently.  Tech experts, parents, business leaders and educators debated how to encourage kids to become 'active creators’ of technology not just 'passive consumers’ (you can read more here).  This doesn't just mean a career in computing or coding: technology is becoming pervasive in all industries, meaning digital skills will be critical for our kids, whatever they choose to do.   81% of employers say now that they are looking for some level of tech ability when recruiting, making tech a vital basic skill (source: BT)

I want our daughter to grow up technologically literate in order to compete in the future jobs market.  How do I help her explore technology beyond swiping an iPad to launch her favourite CBeebies game or FaceTime her (admirably tech-savvy) grandmother? Apparently, by inviting her to build things, take things apart, tinker with gadgets and see literally what's under the cover. Along the way, she’ll discover design, creative thinking, problem solving and construction - and we’ll hopefully have fun learning together.

So we're getting out the junior Meccano set; taking apart old mobile phones; buying a child-friendly keyboard and mouse; and at her request, she’s joining the after-school computer club. It’s opening my eyes, not just hers, to a world of possibilities.  Next up? A fantastic DIY ‘electro dough’ kit ....

Helen Beedham is Head of Corporate Affairs at WorkLife Central and a member of the Citymothers and Cityfathers Network Committee. She previously worked in management consulting in London for 15 years.  She is married with two step-children aged 19 and 21 and a daughter aged 4 and lives in rural Kent.