Most people would agree: technology was designed to make our lives easier and in many cases, to help us connect with others faster. Today, we have immediate access to people and information through commonly used technology like the Internet and cell phones.
Unfortunately, the increasing use of technology has done more to create a gap between people, than it has to lessen it. The real impact of this can be found in how we relate to our children. These days we are more likely to poke our kids on Facebook than to embrace them in a life-breathing hug.
In response, family relationships are more functional than they are relational – and that worries me. On most days, it’s just enough for us to sustain our family’s physical need for food and shelter. But, we are social, emotive beings that require human interaction to thrive. Without that human touch, we lose touch with our children – literally and figuratively.
I worry for the lost children, the ones who have so much potential but don’t have a beacon to guide their path, or an anchor to grasp when the challenges of life tries to push them down.
But I have a solution, and it rests in you and me.
We can be the GPS (global positioning system) for kids who need direction. We can be the map that keeps them on the right path, even if that means taking a detour around a disaster zone.
In the coming months, I’m going to play with the idea of creating a social and emotional GPS for children and I fine-tune the content for my next book. I’d love to have your feedback, so please chime in and continue to post your thoughts here or on my Facebook page.
image credit: Liv_vy
