I think it's a very valid and important conversation. Technology is creating the death of experience and technology addiction in the youngest of kids. Our children are going to live shorter lives than us. We are in the face of a full-flown global ecological crisis and we are depriving the next generation of the one thing that might make them give a duck (contact with nature).

We're also learning more and more from advances in psychology (thank you attachment theory!) about the importance of secure and loving relationships between children and parents if they aren't going to grow up with a sackful of issues.

And yet it's easier said than done, we're enmeshed in a mature (maybe even old-aged and about to kick the bucket) capitalist system that puts enormous strain on both parents to be out working to meet basic needs that once would have been a given part of a leisurely peasant life-style. In the west especially people are living more and more isolated from extended family and really do have to rely on the TV / tablet as a make-shift baby-sitter a lot of the time (totally understandable). It's not necessarily all that easy to simply opt out from the 9-5 capitalist game, depending on the sort of support and education you will have had in your life from friends and family. And if that is a viable decision, then it really does involve strong decisions that leave to the side certain luxuries and priveleges that may be cherished habits to many.

I guess I have an opinion about this a bit like vegetarianism. It's not black and white. It can be grey. If you can't be veggie all the time, cut down a bit and that makes a difference. So even if some people feel they can't cut technology out 100% maybe they can ring-fence places in the house or times of day that are "device-free".

Your post made me think of this meme I saw on FaceBook the other day. :)

That was my rambling two cents. :) Now back to work! <3