Creativity versus technology
I think it would be fair to say that all a child needs is a box of crayons and a pad of paper to express their creativity. I must have been about 11 myself when I would spend many a happy hour drawing and colouring. Whilst I'm all for the advancement of technology, there is a growing trend that allows our children's brains to rot in front of a computer screen. Soon we shall have a whole generation of children with zero imaginative powers, trapped in a virtual world devoid of artistry. It is time for parents to take a stand and save our children from the encroaching darkness of a twelve inch black screen. This is more especially true for autistic children, or some of them. Those children who shun the opportunity to enhance their fine motor skills by holding a pencil, as well as those who shy away from the texture of paper.
I pause in my composition of “Luddites Unite” for publication in “The New Scientist Magazine” to revive my brain with additional caffeine. I notice how quiet the house is and tip toe off to track them down. “Animal Planet” entertains one on the telly. Another one plays with his father, making circuit boards. I look for the little one.
The little one is hunched in front of the computer, a little tangled pretzel of a boy, tightly wrapped but for one arm, extended to hold a mouse. I sit down next to him and peer at the screen too. He is half way through designing a monster. A roulette wheel icon on the side allows him to choose any number of different options, colour, size, limbs, body attributes and any number of variations on a theme. At 47 I could probably navigate my way through this site myself, assuming I was sufficiently interested but I doubt if my skills match his. I expect most 7 year olds and even younger children would be similarly equipped both mentally and digitally. At the end of the exercise, a box appears for the designer to enter a name for their creation, but he skips that bit.
“Aren't you going to give him a name dear?”
“No.” I still can't quite fathom why the boys are so resistant to naming things?
“Oh come. What would be a good name for your creature? Fred? George? Colin?”
He turns his slowly towards me, ripping his eye balls away from the screen. He looks at me as if I am a complete imbecile, puzzled and ever so slightly patronizing.
“Go on………give him a name.”
He looks back at his creature. I hope his brain is percolating, choosing a favourite, perhaps his best friend's name?
“I am be call him…………..no.” Oh dear, he’s stalled.
“What's wrong? What did you think of?”
“I am not be say?” Go on! Share with your old mum why don't you?
“Why?”
“Coz I am not be spell it proper.” Bless his little cotton socks! He's such a perfectionist. You know the type? Can't do it perfectly then he won't do it at all. Doesn’t everyone know someone like this?
“Oh well I can help you with the spelling. You say it and I'll spell it for you.”
“Atomic Robotic Aquatic Heat Blaster.”
Hmm, not Fluffy then?
Such is the curious nature of a speech delay, or maybe the arrested development of a parent?
December 6th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
Definitely _not_ “just” Fluffy!
How about ARAHB……. I am liking the pink mohawkish “do.”
December 6th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Oh my son is SO like that! While many kids make a little scribble and call it a “rocket” or some such thing, he refuses to even try because he insists he can’t really draw a rocket.
As for the naming thing, let me just mention that we currently have a fish named “Red Car.” Why? Because that was what he was looking at when I asked him what he wanted to name it.
But of course.
December 7th, 2007 at 12:50 am
A most appropriate name for a monster – “Atomic Robotic Aquatic Heat Blaster”! (He did very well to get that mouthful out!!)
We have a pair of stuffed toy cheetahs in our house named ‘Lion’ and ‘Tiger’… well what else could they possibly be called?!?
December 7th, 2007 at 1:38 am
My son uses poo to express his creativity! Very creative wouldnt you say?!!
December 7th, 2007 at 2:42 am
Great name.
I have trouble naming things, whether they are game characters or compositions. I can never find a name that captures the essence of what I’ve created.
December 7th, 2007 at 3:13 am
He knows what he wants. Amy names everything! Every single toy she owns has a name and there are hundreds!!
Crystal xx
December 7th, 2007 at 3:42 am
Drawing is a great pastime. I can remember drawing ‘stories’ involving large families. (I was an only child until my sister came along 12 years later)but designing your own monster sounds good for developing imagination as well – and what an impressive name!
December 7th, 2007 at 4:10 am
I remember the “refridgerator art” that covered the appliance for many years….Still have more magnets than a household really needs…
December 7th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Luddites Unite!
And it may just be the arrested parental development here.
Julie
Using My Words
December 7th, 2007 at 5:55 am
I receive artwork almost everyday from Connor’s class. The teacher does a nice job coloring, cuting, pasting, and then passing it off as his work.
December 7th, 2007 at 6:10 am
Atomic Robotic Aquatic Heat Blaster? That’s the name I would have guessed! ;o)
Rosie names everything! Even the Christmas tree! This year we have Tiny Twinkles. It’s 3 ft. tall.
(The monkeys made me LOL!)
December 7th, 2007 at 6:19 am
What a perfect name. Patrick has never named anything as far as I can tell. I’m thinking he doesn’t see the point??
December 7th, 2007 at 6:36 am
FABULOUs name! it rocks. my boy is the one who can be paralyzed by the need for perfection.
December 7th, 2007 at 7:17 am
What a love!
I find myself not following through on things sometimes because I don’t feel I will do it “perfectly.” I’m trying to recognize that and do whatever it is anyway.
December 7th, 2007 at 7:23 am
that picture of the monkeys is exactly how I code too
December 7th, 2007 at 7:23 am
“Can’t do it perfectly then he won’t do it at all. Doesn’t everyone know someone like this?” Yes, ME! I have been trying for years to not allow this form of procrastination… it still holds me up though, even in blogging.
And you know all about my love/hate relationship with technology.
December 7th, 2007 at 7:24 am
Won’t do anything unless he is going to make it perfect.. Wait a minute, that sounds like me! My son, however, isn’t particularly concerned about perfection, if he wants to do something, he just does (and it’s usually a mess).
December 7th, 2007 at 9:18 am
I’m all about moderation. And then, when I find 5,000 pieces of paper scattered about the floor because the itsy bitsy teeny tiny line he drew on it didn’t go in exactly the right direction he wanted, I wonder if the planet woulnd’t appreciate it if I wouldn’t let him do more of his creations on the computer
.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:18 am
Looks like a Fluffy to me. Isn’t it amazing how our children can sit in front of the computer and do things that no one ever showed them how to do? It’s like they’re evolving!
My daughter named her first story character Flaqutunar. (Flak U Tune Are)
But she did the spelling herself and I had to ask her how to say it.
She’d be very embarrassed if she knew I left this comment. Shhh.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:36 am
“Atomic Robotic Aquatic Heat Blaster†he he. Great name and great post!
December 7th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Love the name! I’m with Kristin in giving the creature an acronym, but I’m guessing that probably wouldn’t go over so well with him, eh?
December 7th, 2007 at 10:09 am
Hi Maddy, If I dont get a chance to visit you again before I leave to Oz, I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas! Hope you have a good one!.
December 7th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Hi Alan,
If I dont get a chance to visit you again before I leave to Oz, I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas! Hope you have a good one!.
December 7th, 2007 at 10:18 am
sorry maddy, got too many windows open sending christmas wishes! lol! didn’t mean to send that one to you!
December 7th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
There are tons o’ ways kiddos can create with tech. My boy and I are working on our second comic book, all created with the story from his head…and captured via our digital camera…and edited with photo editing software. We type up the story to get it all nice and firm like we like and then we put the images together. Takes some work, but it’s fun.
December 7th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I am fortunate that Maizie loves paper and technology. I see both as a tool. I love computers and the opportunity for art through technology. I personally think balance is the key to computers, television, game boys etc. We have never had a battle in this area. Lucky! It could be because I try and respect her interest in one of the other. Some days I just want to veg out in front of the t.v. and I am sure kids have days like that too. Obviously, there could be excess and abuse. Maizie may be totally into the computer or t.v. one day and then not have anything to do with it the next. I see it as a real blessing that Joe and I can teach Maizie how to use technology. I could see this being a real strength for her future as an adult.
December 7th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Perfectionist? Yes, I know someone like that. Uh, I’m trying to get over being that person, too!
December 7th, 2007 at 2:36 pm
He certainly doesn’t lack creativity, now, does he? Wow. That is quite a name. I can see why he would be hesitant to try and write that down.
December 7th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
Nasty art, but good drawing.:)
December 7th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
What a great name.So creative. Sanura is really a perfectionist like that too, she gets so frustrated if things she does aren’t perfect! I hear you on the creativity, I sit my kids down with coloring books and crayons and blank paper often. They all enjoy and it’s a good chance for me to get some quality time with them too.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
See, there’s creativity in the electronic, too! My kid is so lacking in creativity that he will only play computer/video games that are math oriented or the NFL football thing. And oh boy on the perfectionist (I know where he gets it from), but I can completely relate to the person who said their kid threw out pieces of paper b/c the line wasn’t perfect.
Hi, Maddy! Finally! I had trouble reading your blog, but am finally able to. I don’t know why you couldn’t get a feed of Spinning Yellow. It should work.
December 7th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
So that’s the opposite of Fluffy and PRETTY great, i think.
December 7th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
My two older sons draw constantly, going through sheets and sheets of paper every day. It’s one of the first things they’ll turn to when they get home after school. “Edison” is also a video game genius and can outplay anyone we know; it’s one of his “skills.”
As for naming…they both, if pressed, will simply decide to name whatever the object of interest is after themselves. We have a lot of things around our house that have the same names as our children.
Cheers.
December 8th, 2007 at 12:56 am
Sounds like Super Robot Monkey Team HyperForce Go! It was a cartoon my daughter was obsessed with a few years ago. I like the name your little one came up with. It sounds like something J would name one of his drawings. He’s been doing a lot of that lately which is a nice change from the computer…and Neopets
December 8th, 2007 at 6:46 am
Love the name! My Kate is obsessed with naming her toys. She especially loves girls’ names that end with an “a”…Sara, Ava, Anna. She so loves names that end in “a” that she will add an “a” to any name. Minnie Mouse is known as Minniea Mousea in our house.
December 8th, 2007 at 10:30 am
You have a very imaginative boy. My daughter, although four, can do things on some computer programs that I cannot even begin to do.
I definitely agree that our children should not spend too much time in front of the television/computer.
My daughter is just as content to draw or create crafts with her mommy. There’s a happy medium somewhere.
Later this afternoon we are making picture frames with some of the seashells we collected while on vacation. I’m not sure which of us is the most excited?
December 8th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I agree totally. I remember the days when we would go out and play when I was a kid and now outside is a foreign word to kids. They are allergic to this that and the other thing now. My daughter ask for crayons but she would rather scribble with them than to draw and color a picture. So sometimes I make her do just that. I try to show her that it is good to have a skill but it is better to have an imagination.
December 8th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
What, not the name you would have chosen?
I happen to love it!
December 8th, 2007 at 10:11 pm
It’s a very cute creature. I like the name.
My son draws better with the mouse and paintbrush than with crayon and paper. (fine motor issues.)
December 8th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Kids seem to come with long names like that. Joshua named a character of his “super mega Joshua” not as long but interesting….
December 9th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
I always question my kids and ask what a certain things name is and they tell me “Name.” We have a lot of things named “Name” here!!
December 12th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
everything here used to be named ‘bront’ for soem reason.
my boy loves designing on the computer. he gets his fine motor skills practice putting the lids back on the milk, now we are buying cheap milk with rubbish cartons!