ICT…

A rather interesting conversation, this weekend between my kids and their friends while walking outside:
Kids: “We will have ICT* lessons and then we will work on computers, that will be fun.”
Me: “Do you know what ICT stands for?”
Kids: “Yes ipad, computer, telephone – I, C and T; we will use all three of them, how cool!”
Me – speechless with a smile.

I tried to explain the real meaning but they were doubting me. The minds of kids is rather interesting I may say. They then came up with “international communication tool” for ICT – not too bad I may say! I like the international thinking there.

While I do understand that kids grow up in an environment where they will have to learn with and about computers early on, I at times struggle with it. All the IT stuff – to me it is the next step, let kids be kids first and let them discover and enjoy the “basics”.

Surely computers, iPads and phones all make an easy and convenient time filler, and the temptation is always there. And much to the dismay of my kids, I limit the screen time at home to the very limit (I am aware that this will become harder and harder the older they get). But I think it is more important to let them explore outside, to play and especially to have them spend time with a real book, with pen and paper and in fact to let them get bored to increase the creativity!

Perhaps we can all set up ICT time at home and rephrase it to Information Communication Tools. Tools being paper and pencil and let the kids minds wander freely.

Have a lovely week,

AK

* ICTs stand for information and communication technologies and are defined, for the purposes of this primer, as a “diverse set of technological tools and resources used to communicate, and to create, disseminate, store, and manage information.”