In the time it took me to write this sentence, I've performed fifteen different media tasks (all while learning to play the ukulele). Whether any of these tasks have been performed with any semblance of quality, well, that's up for spirited debate.
The question of whether media multitasking hinders or helps our mental abilities is even more hotly debated when it's about our children. It's a topic of vast research, much of which is conflicting.
Some say the more tasks the better. Perhaps some muted Mozart in the background really does help your child focus? Perhaps little Johnny's hand-eye coordination is improving as he texts while playing Guitar Hero? Perhaps a look up at the television will allow for a moment of reflection on the paragraph of "Johnny Tremain" she just read?
Perhaps not. Many others say multitasking contributes firsthand to the downfall of civilization! Look no further than the recent Kaiser Family Foundation study, which says that kids who spend more time with the media, time multiplied exponentially by multitasking, have lower grades, get into more trouble, and are less happy.
Regardless of what the research tells us, the truth is that - though the Rockies may crumble, Gibraltar may tumble - multitasking is here to stay. As the computer, with all its little windows opening and closing, cements itself into our everyday lives, so too must multitasking. Consider this: children between eight and eighteen currently spend more time with media than they do with their parents or teachers!
What do you think about multitasking and children? And feel free to watch TV, text, listen to music, and play a video game as you let us know where you stand.
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