When Tech is Good for Kids

The past year I find myself having more frequent talks with my teenage boys about their computer use. My older son plays online games with his friends, while my younger son loves discovering apps and videos on his itouch. Even with set rules and limitations, there are days I wish I had them "all to ourselves" and that these attention-grabbing gadgets didn't exist. Some days I even wish I raised them on a Waldorf education wherein media exposure is controlled and limited according to the child's age. Then on other days, they surprise us with new abilities and new creations they picked up from the rich resource that is the internet, and I realize that maybe we made the right choice for ourselves and our family.Just like on that day around 4 years ago when C surprised us all when he showed us he could play excerpts of actual piano pieces just by watching You Tube tutorials.He and our younger son were having piano lessons at home, with a traditional teacher teaching them notes, scale, and started with the most basic tunes like Mary Had a Little Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star. After just a few sessions, even she was surprised when C had accelerated his learning through self-study on You Tube and was already playing excerpts of pieces by popular Japanese pianists Yoshiki (Without you) and Yiruma (River Flows in you). (Video demo of the song above is in this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4GGZ6QGHcs)After another year, we had moved and the piano was left behind at my Mom in law's home, so out the window went his piano lessons along with his interest in the instrument. C stopped playing by default and we thought he had forgotten whatever he knew. Then one day we had the chance to borrow a friend's electric piano and in about a week, he relearned his pieces plus added new ones to his repertoire. I took this video *secretly* while his back was turned......he discovers my act of recording as he turned to check his ipad for his tutorial progress...and I got some violent protests there, woops! #parentingteensWe had another more recent surprise by our second son Z, who, if you'll remember from my previous post, is our Lego master at home. One afternoon he comes up to us and just asks us for two 5-peso coins. His Dad hands them to him as we waited to find out what he was up to. He, too, surprised us with his creation--According to Z he was inspired by similar mechanisms he saw on You Tube and thought of building his Lego soda dispenser using what he learned. Amazing!Because of these natural displays of talent, we discover our sons' inclinations and interests and it makes us easier to guide them towards their passions,  skill, even future endeavors and occupations.  For our Lego boy, he is already interested in maybe taking up architecture or industrial design in College!With many other things in life, there's a good and bad in everything. There's also usually evil to excessiveness and more good in moderation. With proper guidance, technology can really enrich our kids' lives if they choose to use it well. Now to follow my children's cue, let me check You Tube if it can help me become a better cook!