We live surrounded by technology and gadgets so is it right that they are taking centre stage in our lives?

The planet has increased in population dramatically and some areas have become very densely covered that traditional games and activities are being lost to our children due to social safety.

Parents have a busier life today and often both parents have to work to make ends meet. It is little wonder that iPads, game consoles, computers and phones are being used as surrogate parents as they keep the kids occupied and quiet.

The downside is that these children can grow up with a lack of social interaction and can be very withdrawn to the point of being unable to contribute to the work-places of the future or peer groups of interest.

Of course this modern technology can be used sensibly and can enhance a child’s learning and knowledge skills but it has to be balanced with traditional activities and parental guidance.

I hear so many of the older generation bemoaning modern technology but they do not stop and reflect on their own hypocrisy.

Take the car for example. It made journey times shorter but that in itself took away from the adventure and experience of the journey. It also made us into lazy people who use the car for even the most basic journeys like going a few hundred yards to the shops. Television was the same. Prior to this families listened to the radio, chatted, played games and read in the evenings and had adventures in the open air by day.

So each generation is guilty of being sucked into technological advances and the electronic and Ai age is just today’s example. Used carefully these advanced toys are fun and fulfilling but beware of the pitfalls and vices that can trip you up.

There are many who are trapped into the modern day inventions, some who will reject them totally and then there are the ones who will use these tools in a balanced and enhancing way.

I like my phone, music assistant, tablet and computer but also like the outdoors (when the pollen count is low), face to face chats, museums and other stimulus to fill my days. The biggest crime is that everything costs so much now and stupid health and safety laws stop us from doing what we could a generation ago.

The magic is though how far and how much one interprets what is best; so how will you manage our next generations future?