Technology and Parenting

The Myth of Multi Tasking

TECHNOLOGY AND PARENTING

Being  a parent today has  plenty of challenges, none more so than keeping up with what our kids  are doing on their  devices. This is particularly the  case when we think  they should be using  their  time more productively.

These days so much of the  kids’ school work  and  study is done on a computer or tablet that it gets tricky  to discern how  much of their  screen time  is work  and  how  much is scrolling on Instagram or snapping on Snapchat.

Of course our kids don’t see a problem with  this.  They believe they are  pretty proficient multitaskers, able  to scroll  a social  media feed, live stream music,  answer a text message and  study for their  maths test at the  same time.

And we  shouldn’t be surprised that they think this,  because most of us think the  same. Most parents are  also now  regular users of a digital device and  also  believe we  can  multitask with  ease. We  routinely scan Facebook while  simultaneously stirring the  cheese sauce, breaking up an argument in the  other room and  listening to our partner recap their  day  at work.

The truth is that neither our kids nor ourselves can  effectively multitask and  do  the  best job possible at any given time. Research tells us that the  brain  has a finite amount of attention it can  devote at any one  moment in time. When we  pile tasks on top of one  another, we  reduce the  effectiveness of our brain  as it must now  share that limited resource amongst those multiple jobs.  We  are  not  multitasking – we  are  switch tasking. This means that each of those tasks takes longer as we  rapidly flick our attention from one  of them to another, refocusing each time. We  lose  momentum and  we  lose  efficiency.

So how  can  we  help  our kids (and  ourselves) stay  focused and  concentrate on one  task  at a time?

Have them  set  up study blocks

This can  start with  time  slots  as short as 20 minutes in which they focus on one  task  only for that period. The blocks need to be timed and  need to be devoted to only a single task.

Turn off notifications

The binging and  beeping of a device will always encourage diversion as the  owner feels  the  need to respond to their  messages or check that email.  By turning off all the  noise-based distractions, your kids (and  you) are  less likely to be interrupted during a focused study period.

Allow them  to reward  themselves

Each time  they manage to complete a set study period, they can  be rewarded with  a short break to do

something else. If this is checking social  media then they need to set a timer and  stick  to it. We  all know  how easily  we  can  get sucked into  the  vortex of social  media feeds and  never-ending scrolling. Other breaks might involve  playing with  a pet or listening to a song. Getting up and  moving to get the  blood pumping is a great way  to take a break and  ensure your brain  is ready to refocus when the  time  comes for the  next  block.

Invest  in an analogue clock

Use a clock  or a visual timer that counts down the  time  for each study period. When the  brain  sees time  literally ticking away it finds it easier to grasp the  concept of how  fast time  is going and,  in turn,  what is being accomplished in that time. This doesn’t quite work  the  same way  when we  use  a digital clock, so using  an analogue clock  can  be a really useful  exercise to try.

Monitor your child

When parents lament to me that they don’t know  if their  child  is doing any work,  or they are  always distracted by their  devices, then I ask them to have the  conversation with  them. Find out  what they are  doing and  if they are struggling with  anything. Look at how  they are  keeping up with  all aspects

of their  lives. Ask their  teacher if they are  still on track. Remember that monitoring your child  – and  not  just on their  devices – is the  best way  to ensure they are  in control and  getting the  things done that they need to be

doing.

There are  certainly some tasks that we  can  do  at the  same time  without compromising efficiency. Hanging out  the  washing while  listening to a podcast is something I can  confidently achieve. But when it comes to more cognitive pursuits that require greater focus, then we  must remember that our brains need to be able  to focus solely  on one  task  at a time  in order to

achieve them in the  most productive manner possible.