The one solid point that Mr. Baylis talked about was that kids do not use their hands to create like they used to; everything they do is virtual, not touchable.  He believes that simple challenges using tools,  such as model kits, would give children valuable skills.  While it is extremely important to give a child the opportunity to physically explore the world around them, the issue is probably more of how electronic devices are being used by young people, rather than that they are replacing other forms of learning.

So, it’s starting to look like the Internet is inundating kids with so much information, they can’t focus on one thing (almost like Internet-induced ADHD).  Instead of the Internet causing creativity to disappear from young people, maybe it is just the problem of multitasking – thinking you can do a lot of things well and, in reality, doing none of them well.  In a blog posted by Dick Bourgeois-Doyle on Stubbornbooks.com, he says that, “it is in the long term commitment to an idea and the persistence beyond all reason that true influential creation emerges.”  Perusing an idea to the end, without the distractions of texts, TV, Facebook, etc, is really what is needed to be creative.  And this commitment, this focus, is the real culprit to our children’s apparent lack of creativity, not just the decline in tactile learning.

So, some would argue that we’re breeding a robotic generation whose main social contact is a web based one and who are losing the ability to talk and deal with others face to face. Others would argue that the Internet is the largest, most comprehensive encyclopedia ever known to man. There is enough information to become an expert in almost any topic. The Internet is not making children brain-dead; in fact, it should be the opposite. It should be making a generation of incredibly knowledgeable and skillful children.

So, what is the answer?  Do we shut down the power to our computers and wrestle the smartphone away from our kids?  Or do we embrace the power of the Internet (and technology)? Probably, like almost everything else in the world, moderation is the key.  As a Greek philosopher once said, “Throw moderation to the winds and the greatest pleasures bring the greatest pains” and that still holds true today. If our kids become too dependent on the Internet, they may, indeed, have great pains dealing with the harsh reality of the real world.

So, let them use the Internet as a tool and resource and encourage them to go to ROBLOX instead of Facebook and Twitter, at least some of the time.  But, also get them some time away from it; have them build things, or draw, or simply read a book.  Encourage them to have real conversations with their friends (not just texting) and other face-to-face social interactions.  Then, we’ll have the best shot ensuring that the next generation is also a creative generation.