Albert Einstein once said: “I fear the day that technology surpasses our human interaction.” Well, Albert Einstein, this day has come. We are not only at a point where a human can’t interact with another human, but we are at a point where a girl can’t even interact with her doll. At the age of 6, 20 years ago, we used to own toys. We spent every minute of every day playing or goofing around. Children at the age of 6 today have smartphones. They spend all day on Facebook or Instagram.
“As a child, my Barbie was my best friend. And I spent every second I could playing with her.”
The 55-year-old, 11.5 inch tall Barbie is getting extinct. As a child, my Barbie was my best friend. And I spent every second I could playing with her. I bought her clothes, furniture and a car. I even combed her hair daily. Every Christmas or every Feast, my friends and I would get a new Barbie. At these moments our lives felt complete. Then what has changed? Why is Barbie not as popular and wanted as she used to be?
Statistics show that the iconic Barbie sales are sliding. And nothing that the toymaker Mattel does seems to prevent it. Recent statistics show that Barbie sales fell 6% and were down a jaw-dropping 13%. On the other hand electronic devices are becoming more popular among children. A Study shows that about 75% of children under the age of 8 use electronic devices! And about 38% of children under 2 use smartphones and tablets.
“The life she creates for Barbie will eventually become her dream life.”
It seems like parents are getting more comfortable with their children using technology. As a result, they buy them their own smartphones and tablets. They consider downloading one or two learning apps among thousands of game apps. A modern way of education, rather than, buying their child a Lego box, so he would use his architecture skills and imagination to create a car or house. Another option is buying their daughter a Barbie, so she would imagine her doll’s childhood and career. She can create conversations between her dolls. Her imagination will be set free. And she will be like a remote control that controls everything about this doll’s life. The life she creates for Barbie will eventually become her dream life. The personality she gave Barbie will make Barbie her idol.
With a Barbie your daughter will actually have a goal. For example: becoming an entrepreneur or a doctor like her Barbie. Rather than wanting to beat her friend’s Temple Run high score or to have more coins on It Girl. This doesn’t mean that parents shouldn’t allow children to use any technology at all. Technology is important, but only to a certain limit. Technology will not help shape a child’s personality. It will isolate them from people, from their parents and from the world.
“Fresh air is healthy for children, sports are relevant in a child’s life and exploring nature is fun and educational.”
The main idea behind this article is not to just buy a Barbie. It is to limit a child’s access to technology. Fresh air is healthy for children, sports are relevant in a child’s life and exploring nature is fun and educational. Children need to enjoy their lives and have fun with their friends.
Childhood is the only time when they don’t have any responsibilities or worries. They will have plenty of time to use laptops, tablets and smartphones when they grow up and start working. So help your sons and daughters have an enlightening and joyful childhood. And stop spoiling them with electronic devices that will harm them later on in the future.
