While I’m a fan of anything with a lowercase ‘i’ preceding it, I’ve grown weary of some behaviors that accompany our tech obsession. I dislike the constant urge to check my messages and the inadvertent neglect of my kids when I’m preoccupied with my screen. The endless pleas from my children to use their devices or to download the latest apps can be quite grating. Not to mention the loud chatter while they’re engrossed in their games and the inevitable debates about when it’s time to put the gadgets away.
Recently, my partner and I made a surprising decision in our world of iPad and iPhone fanaticism: we left our devices at home during our vacation to Mexico. Admittedly, we couldn’t resist bringing our own devices—after all, we had “super important” tasks to handle.
This turned into a little social experiment for us. A trip that involved a flight, a layover, customs in Mexico, and a taxi ride to our hotel without tablets could easily have ended in chaos.
To our surprise, when we informed the kids that no iPads would accompany us, they didn’t rise up in rebellion. Instead, they quickly brainstormed other games and activities to engage in during our travels. They appeared to embrace our little social experiment. Instead of bemoaning their fate, they happily played hangman, wrote in journals, colored, and read together. Sure, they missed their devices a few times, but mostly they reveled in playing at the pool and on the beach.
During this trip, they even learned how to play card games, created countless drawings, and engaged in imaginative play together. While surviving a week without technology was a challenge at times, it led me to ponder: as technology becomes increasingly prevalent in our lives, what did we parents do as kids without these devices? How did we fill our days before Minecraft, Candy Crush, and social media existed? Did we drive our parents crazy with our constant proclamations of boredom, just like our kids do?
Sure, we had our own tech obsessions back in the ’80s, growing up with Nintendo and handheld games. We had the thrill of Pac-Man and Frogger, and we experienced the emergence of music videos and after-school specials. I even reached out to some friends on social media to reminisce about their childhood entertainment before the age of iPads and iPhones.
Bike riding was the most popular response. In the ’80s, we roamed freely on our bikes, exploring our neighborhoods and enjoying the independence that came with it. Just like Elliot and his friends in E.T., we spent countless hours riding around, unsupervised.
Choreographing plays and dances was another favorite pastime, especially among girls. I remember dancing to Pointer Sisters songs, dreaming of being a professional dancer.
Here’s a fun list of what we did as kids before the digital age took over:
- Unsupervised exploration: We’d leave home in the morning and wander the neighborhood without a care, returning just in time for dinner.
- Pretend cooking: My sister and I made “pizzas” from dirt and tree debris, showcasing our creativity with nature.
- Bug collecting: Grasshoppers, ladybugs, and worms were our prized finds.
- Playing WAR: The simplest card game, but we could play for hours.
- Cops and Robbers: Classic role-playing adventures.
- Fort building: We’d transform sheets and blankets into imaginative hideaways.
- Street baseball and kickball: Our driveways doubled as fields.
- Creating mixed tapes: Fast-forward, rewind, and record were our jam.
- Lawn gymnastics: We learned flips and tricks, long before formal lessons were a thing.
- Doorbell ditching: Because boredom called for a little mischievous fun.
- Going door-to-door for sales: Whether it was car washing or lemonade stands, we were young entrepreneurs.
- Running through sprinklers: No pools? No problem! Sprinklers were our summer delight.
- Tree climbing: I once climbed high and fell, but oh the thrill of it all!
Reflecting on those carefree days brings a wave of nostalgia. I wish my children could experience that same freedom and creativity. What will they remember most about their childhood? As the first generation heavily immersed in social media, I’m sure they’ll have a wealth of stories to share about this connected world we live in.
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Summary:
In this post, Jamie Turner reflects on a family trip to Mexico where her children left their iPads behind, leading to a surprising and enriching experience. The kids engaged in various activities like games, journaling, and imaginative play, highlighting the contrast to their usual tech-dependent routines. This nostalgic look back at childhood activities before technology reveals a longing for simpler times and encourages parents to foster creativity and exploration in their kids.