I have been reading to Smallsteps at night since she was born and I will keep on doing it for as long as I can. Originally of course, it was pretty simple books, but in the last years we have moved through the series of Mary Poppins, Narnia, Roald Dahl collections and now to Middle Earth and the Lord of the Rings. The time we spend reading and then reflecting after, plus all the conversations we have that reference what we have read, is golden time.
I don't understand why so many parents choose not to read to their kids. And then, I don't know why people want to outsource these moments to others like nannies, or very soon, to robots. There are multiple companies doing it and this is just one that is a "companion robot" for children and the elderly, that will tell stories, sing, dance and remind old people to take their medicine. The companion for the elderly I get, but when parents are choosing this to replace the tasks of the parent, I feel bad for the child.
It is becoming like people are choosing to forget how humans work, how we build interpersonal skills and strategies, emotional strength, and bonds with others. We see anything that we don't want to do, that we don't know how to do, that bores us, or is not interesting for us right now as a chore. And when we aren't willing to do anything that isn't interesting to us, it means we are going to struggle to create any kinds of relationships of depth.
For children it is even worse today, as many are growing up without care, affection, attention, and a sense of belonging from the very people whose job it is to raise them. They are starving, socially-malnourished from a lack of people around them who are willing to invest into their wellbeing. Well, unless you call buying a robot to raise them an investment.
I watch those American movies where people are raised by nannies and there are cleaners everywhere, and I wonder how common it is. As far as I have seen, I don't know of a single Finn who had a nanny. Not one. But these days, I do see a lot of parents shoving a screen in front of their kid's face to keep them quiet, entertained, out of the way. And it makes me wonder, is it really any surprise that the state of youths is so bad in so many places? Is it any wonder that children starved of affection and care in the home are playing up at school? Is it any wonder that youth crime is increasing in most places?
Perhaps with a robot to raise them they will end up better off in many ways, speaking more languages (even though that won't be a great skill in the future) and having their homework done. But, if they are unable to connect with other humans, if they live in a digital feedback bubble, what kinds of people are they going to be in society? Is there a society at all?
What happens to community?
I find it dystopic that people are willing to have a screen, a robot, or a stranger raise their children during their formative years, when they are learning the structure of the family culture. I find it sad that so many seem more interested in doom scrolling than spending time with their kids, which is perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences a human can have.
Parenting is far more than reading a book, staying up with an ill child, or rocking them to sleep. It is far more than putting a roof over their head, clothes on their back and making sure they do their homework. But perhaps, because of the constant encroachment of technology that steals our attention, many people never really experience what parenting is actually about, or the impact it makes on our global experience. Yet, we are definitely seeing the symptoms of absent parents, who might be there in body, but not spirit.
Maybe a robot can do it far better after all.
Like robot, like child.
Taraz
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