Wait — Screen Time Is Good for Kids?
At first glance, the research is utterly conclusive. It seems we should throw out every TV in our house, smash our kids’ smartphones, and usher our children into the great outdoors as soon as possible. But what most of these studies fail to take into account is the content of the electronic media. If a child spends two hours a day bingeing episodes of “The Big Bang Theory” or screaming obscenities into a headset while playing “Call of Duty,” it’s going to negatively impact their experience of the world along with their mental and physical health. But not all content is created equal.
For infants and young toddlers, the research still sides pretty heavily against the use of iPads and television. Before 18 months of age, a child lacks the cognitive capabilities allowing them to apply the lessons of technology to real life, and even after that, the APP recommends that media consumption should be limited to “high-quality programming, such as the content offered by Sesame Workshop and PBS.” But for kids ages 5 and up, parents should avoid banning screen time outright, but function as their child’s media mentor. Instead of decrying time spent building complex structures in “Minecraft” as hours that could be spent on the soccer field, we should set expectations and boundaries to ensure that children can deepen their experience of the world through media, not hamper it. The problem starts not with the screen itself, but when the consumption of media becomes problematic, replacing regular face-to-face interactions and physical activity. But with a balanced media diet, kids can have the best of both worlds.
If you Google the effects of screen time on children, you’re sure to be bombarded with horror stories. Numerous articles claim that, beginning in infancy, the more time a child spends in front of a TV, phone, or computer, the worse their developmental outcomes will be.
In the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended strict limits on electronic engagement for kids, following the old line of thinking that any kind of screen time would be better spent climbing a tree or running in the backyard. But in October of 2016, they offered new recommendations for parents.
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HOW COYE LAW USES THE LATEST IN TECHNOLOGY
In a world where technology evolves constantly, law firms seem to be the last holdouts of a bygone era. A lot of attorneys' offices still have binders of case files stacked to the ceiling and use more paper than a printing shop. Coye Law Firm, on the other hand, hasn’t shied away from seeking out ways to use technology to better serve our clients.
A few years ago, we made the switch to becoming a paperless practice for all internal communication. Obviously, a certain amount of paper is necessary to do our jobs — Wade is fond of saying that paperless means “less paper,” not “paper-free.” In addition to decreasing our environmental impact, this change has allowed us to be more efficient. Instead of thumbing through files, we can obtain all the information about a case with just a search and a click.
contracts. One of the great advances of the digital age is that distances grow smaller. Now, we can get contracts to clients in an instant, no matter where they are located. Another way we bridge the distance between our office and clients is through video conferencing software. We can have face-to-face meetings at any hour of the day in a way that’s more meaningful than a simple phone conversation. Soon enough, we expect that judges will show up on screens and hearings will be able to happen remotely. At Coye Law Firm, we believe that technology shouldn’t be feared or shunned. Of course, if you would rather sign a contract in person, we still offer that option. We just want to offer the best to our clients, and ignoring advancement only leads to becoming obsolete. That’s why our philosophy is to embrace, adapt, and evolve.
In the past, we’ve found clients were hesitant to sign contracts without a pen and paper. If a client couldn’t make it into the office, we had to mail contracts, delaying us from getting started on a case. As people become more accustomed to electronic signing, though, we’ve found they are less wary of digital
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