What we learned this week #36

The kids of today are cooler than any other. Even the ones in Grease (who were all actually about 30). I wish that I was even approaching the awesomeness of the average ten-year-old when I was their age – the gadgets! The gizmos! The coding ability! Le sigh. They all dress cooler, too. This week we learned about what how kids today are getting – and can continue to be – so cool.

Spotify makes kids into musos!

I mean, I had WinMX as a tween, but all the mislabelled tracks had me believing that Gorillaz song was called ‘Sunshine In A Bag’ for years. Spotify is significantly more legal and, as Curtis Silver attests, gives kids an opportunity to listen to much more music:

‘Our kids, if they listen to music, tend to listen to music that is listened to around them. Whether it be from their friends or from their parents. My own children listen to everything from Queen to Katy Perry, and it’s tough for them in social circles as not all parents are well versed in musical history.
‘As many of us parents have learned we also cannot force our generation of music on our children, they will like what they like and there isn’t much we can do about it besides helping to form their opinion of what they like. My children understand to judge music on its form and structure, rather than its popularity on the radio or with peers. Services like Spotify only help to proliferate this understanding.’

Xbox Kinect bridges several generation gaps

As Roberto Catanuto says, ‘Grandparents are an invaluable resource in family life’ – one that, given the gulf of a technological divide between the younger and older generations, may be untapped by your children. How to bridge that gap? With an Xbox, according to Tamsin Oxford:

‘Recent research undertaken by North Carolina State University found that there was ‘a link between gaming and better well-being and emotional functioning’ in the elderly.

‘So, how does this ensure your teenage son bonds with your mom? Their awkwardness and generational differences can be put aside the moment you stick them both in front of a Wii or Xbox 360. Start them playing against each other using games that are designed to be addictive and fun for all ages.’

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