Children can be pretty mean (sometimes) about differences. You are not alone, as nearly every child feels different in some way. My mom was from another country and when my friends came over they had to abide by different rules at my house than at anyone else\’s house. Since my mom grew up in Europe and was little during the war, food was scarce. She had this ongoing issue with the way american children just went into other people\’s refrigerators and helped themselves to food. I was so embarrassed that I had to tell me friend\’s that they couldn\’t go into my mother\’s kitchen.

The technology piece poses a different cultural question. Some young parents (now) grew up with a lot of this technology so they don\’t know life without it. They might not even have their own boundaries around using technology so it is difficult for them to see the need for structure and boundaries around their children\’s use of technology. Other parents may not even be aware of what their children can access, at home or at other people\’s homes.

We also have to consider the threat that all of this poses to \”PLAY\”; interactive, all-encompassing, down-and-dirty PLAY. If you are plugged in, you are NOT playing.