The Device Generation Goes to Grade School

Changes in child-raising that have occurred due to the rapid adoption of mobile devices and changes in toys design (no ropes, edges, small moving parts) mean that kids are not getting enough practice using their fingers and hands, and agility suffers. I attended a talk recently where teachers spoke of grade school students that had never held a writing utensil. More and more first graders are having difficulty holding a crayon and drawing for more than a few minutes without getting frustrated with their tired hands. My wife and I have responded by limiting our children's screen time (television, devices, computers) and introducing more activities for their hands like coloring or playing with stamps, stickers, or playdough.