Unplugged: Digital Dilemma
We all know how difficult it is to raise children today. With the cultural redefinition of moral norms, the promotion of gender confusion, and the early access to technology connecting our children’s pliable minds to distant ideas—some good, many harmful—parents face unprecedented challenges.
Yet, there is pressure to equip young children with smartphones, granting them mass access to what can only be described as the “dawn of dark.” Early cell phone use undermines children’s ability to interact with each other, robs them of their youth, and diminishes outdoor playtime and the wonder of exploring nature. Most critically, it exposes them to harmful content at the click of a button, replacing intimate parental time with screen dependence.
We are warned in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be watchful; your adversary the devil is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” Could this device be one of his tools?
We have all been affected to some extent. Look around, and you will see people with their necks bent forward, engrossed in screens. A simple notification causes immediate alertness—myself included!
Another troubling outcome of cell phone obsession is how young children prefer watching others engage in activities rather than participating themselves. They often watch strangers play with toys they own or desire.
My children were fortunate not to grow up with these gadgets, but I faced similar challenges with excessive TV time. I implemented a rule allowing only a limited amount of approved programming daily. After that, they could engage in sports, read, or play outside. If none of those options appealed, they were gently ushered out with the command, “Go play, no TV brain here!”
Brad Huddleston’s book, Digital Cocaine: A Journey Toward iBalance, offers disturbing insights based on scientific data. It reveals how continuous use of digital devices reshapes our brains into an addictive “digital brain.” Remove the device from your child and observe their reaction—fidgetiness, anger, and aggression are red flags signaling a chemical change in the brain.
Huddleston emphasizes the importance of outdoor play, or “natural play,” such as climbing trees. Scientific studies support that climbing trees enhances cognitive engagement, requiring the child’s mind and body to work together in unity to navigate higher and safely.
With school back in session and extracurricular activities limiting screen time, we have a prime opportunity to set new rules and expectations for device use. Limiting screen time allows children to engage with real people, places, and activities like biking, fishing, nature walks, or neighborhood games.
As Christian parents, we are called to be vigilant. Deuteronomy 6:7 instructs us to “impress God’s rules on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
This calls for intentional unplugging and plugging into the interactions God intended for us. Perhaps starting with finding a sturdy tree for climbing.
