It’s amazing how fast technology advances. Devices that were state of the art not that long ago wind up in the junk closet before you know it.
We recently dropped by Kiddie Academy of Abingdon in Maryland with several items that were once high-tech must haves and asked the 5-year-olds if they knew what they were, and if so, how to use them. The reactions were predictably precious.
Phone book
“Doesn’t look like a book we want to read.”
Flip phone
“How do you turn this thing on?”
Portable TV
“What is this?”
Film negatives
“Are these Band-Aids®?”
Game Boy
“It’s a remote control!”
iPod
“A song thing.”
Discman CD player
And our favorite – “Is it a robot vacuum?”
If you’ve got a collection of “old tech” stashed away, you could do this activity at home. Show the devices to your child and explain how they were used and what we use instead today. It’s a fun and hands-on way to talk about technology while sharing family memories.
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