Help is at hand for IT un-savvy parents and grandparents
It's definitely a 21st century problem: Our kids know way more about technology than we do, and it's time we did something about it. So says Yvette Adams, mum of two and author of new guide, "No Kidding: Why Our Kids Know More About Technology Than Us and What We Can Do About It?"
According to Adams, today's kids are intuitively able to figure out every device, app, game and social network that comes their way. Just hand a tablet or a smartphone to a toddler, and watch what happens. They instantly, intuitively know what to do with it.
Children under two can already master laptops, smart phones and tablets with ease. My nine-year-old daughter said the other day: "It's really funny watching old people try to use things like iPads." And by old I hope she means anyone over 70, but suspect it's more like anyone over 40.
Often technology is seen in a negative light. With cross parents getting exasperated over overuse of their gadgets, losing their phones to their 2 year olds and dishing out screen bans.
But Yvette Adams, a tech entrepreneur and down-to-earth Sunshine Coast mother of two, who never thought in a thousand years she'd work with computers, believes there is no point in fighting technology or ignoring it. It's not going away, and the sooner parents embrace it, the better off family life will be.
Adams says the book is aimed at helping parents get started with technology and to understand how it can actually help, and not hinder your family life through many practical applications – from technology to save time, technology to save money, technology to stay fit and health through to technology to be a creative family.
Over 500 websites and apps are showcased throughout the book and industry leaders such as David Bartlett (named as one of the Top 50 Most Influential People in Technology in Australia); Andy Lark (ex Chief Marketing & Online Officer at Commonwealth Bank of Australia who sits on the board of, No.8 Ventures – New Zealand's premier technology venture capital firm) and Vanessa Garrard of E3 Style (the largest licensed youth electronics supplier in Australia & New Zealand) have contributed.
Adams hopes the book will become a valuable resource to influencers of children across the globe such as Government leaders, teachers, career advisors and grandparents who realise that technology is changing the world, and fast, and who are prepared to step up and do something about it.
"Even if you're not convinced that technology is your thing", says Adams, "I'm hoping you'll give this technology thing your best shot for your child's sake"!
Since the dawn of time, parents have taught their children everything they needed to know to survive. But then technology came along and turned every aspect of our lives on its head. Our kids just pick up devices and naturally know what to do with them! Love it or hate it, life is not the same as it once was. And it will keep on changing. So it's time to get up to speed with technology and what it means to be a parent in the digital age.
Adams says the challenge before parents and influencers of children today is immense. Information overload. Rapid change. Safety and privacy concerns.
"The fact that we are preparing them for jobs that don't exist yet. Not to mention the giant digital footprints they are creating".
But Adams says the book is most definitely not another negative tirade about the evils of social media or cyber safety issues, which though she does touch on, are only a minor aspect of the book. Instead she hopes the book will introduce readers to the many positive benefits of technology.
"The short of it is, the kids need us to step up", says Adams. "You see, at the moment, we expect the education system and the government to do something about it, but the curriculum can't keep up with the speed at which the world is changing. So kids desperately need their parents to understand the technology they are using right now and how the future is changing because of it".
So parents, if you want to know your apps from your elbow and be down with your kids, get with the program and get IT savvy today!
Visit www.nokidding.com.au.
Interested people can also follow No Kidding on Facebook or Google+.
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