Technology, Materialistic Kids, Benefits of Video Games

Jay McFarland joins Dr. Matt to discuss the latest developments in technology and technology related news.  Jay is a radio host whose career has taken him to Nevada and Dallas and now has him on the air with a daily show called The Browsers on KSL NewsRadio in Salt Lake City.  In addition to his daily radio show Jay has also authored two books, "Freedom Ain't Free" and "Joyful Union," and he has created several popular apps and games for the iPhone and iPad devices. Jay and Dr. Matt talk about learning on the internet, Microsoft ending Internet Explorer, and Google finally screening apps in their app store.

Dr Matt talks about how rewarding children with material objects, parents may unwittingly be building habits and dependency on material objects for happiness, resulting in more materialistic children and adults. He talks about leading with principals not punishment.

Dr. Gray received his undergraduate from Columbia University and Ph.D. in biological sciences from Rockefeller University and is the author of the recently published books Free to Learn and Psychology. Dr. Peter Gray is a research professor at Boston College whose current research and writing focus primarily on children's natural ways of learning and the life-long value of play. He says that, “\[video] games may help children develop logical, literary, executive, and even social skills.”