OOur world is now filled with gadgets of all kinds. Children see adults using technology all the time & are thus used to it right from the start. Most parents are aware of the harmful effects of using gadgets at an early age in life, but are helpless when it comes to calming down a persistent child. When parents expose their kids to the harmful effects of electronic gadgets there is definitely a sense of guilt which may be quite stressful.
Therefore its high time to plan suitable substitutes to pacify children when needed. In the first place, children should never be exposed to watching cartoons on the cell phones or I pads. Watching on a larger TV screen for a controlled time may be the right step initially. Later , the habit of reading books with colourful images, story telling etc. may be practiced.
The worst thing about cell phones is their accessibility all the time. A TV on the other hand is not portable & thus more controlled. Watching the television from a distance is much safer than staring at a gadget kept very close to the eyes.
Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. Kids don’t need the gadget to keep them occupied when there is so much more that they can do at that age – after all, we managed to grow up just fine without the world of technology.
Later , the habit of reading books with colourful images, story telling etc may be practiced.
The worst thing about cell phones is their accessibility all the time. A TV on the other hand is not portable & thus more controlled. Watching the television from a distance is much safer than staring at a gadget kept very close to the eyes.
Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. Kids don’t need a gadget to keep them occupied when there is so much more that they can do at that age – after all, we managed to grow up just fine without the world of technology.
Why expose your child to gadgets for entertainment? Allow them to grow up normally, using dolls and building blocks, puzzles and cricket bats, books and footballs. They’ll be grateful that you did!
Why Kids Are Addicted to Electronic Gadgets
It comes as no surprise that kids are addicted to gadgets such as smart phones or video game devices, and can’t spend an hour without them. For some kids, playing with electronic devices is not just a part of life, it’s the only thing in life. Parents need to take responsibility of spending quality time with their kids & not handing over a gadget when their child seeks attention.
When children are young, parents hand over their phone to them willingly, to keep them occupied or quiet. This is how it starts.
Then, kids may want a mobile phone or a video game because their friend has one. This is when it aggravates.
Harmful Effects of Electronic Gadgets for Infants
- Exposure to Radiation: Did you know that holding wireless gadgets too close to the body can increase your child’s exposure to radiation? Wireless gadgets emit radiation, which is absorbed by the child’s body at a rate that is higher than that in adults.
- Hampered Cognitive Development: Your baby’s brain develops at a rapid pace from the time he is born. Research has shown that overexposure to gadgets can result in slow cognitive development, attention deficits, and even impaired hearing. So, from the time that your baby learns to utter his first few words, the people reading, singing songs and nursery rhymes, and talking to him should be human, and not some fictitious characters on the TV or tablet.
For Toddlers 1 to 2 years
- Delays Physical Development: Toddlers should be strolling around in their walkers, or playing with blocks and other toys, instead of being glued to the TV all the time! Lack of physical activity is bound to result in delayed physical development and even childhood obesity, which is alarmingly on the rise, considering the amount of time children spend on gadgets.
- Strain on the Eyes: Electronic devices are the main cause of eye problems in children. Overuse of gadgets results in dry eyes, causing multiple eye infections. It can also affect vision itself. The bright colourful lights & the fast moving actions are different from real life experiences. So the child finds his environment dull & boring. Too much contraction of eye muscles can make it difficult for them to relax easily, causing pseudo-myopia.
- Builds Obsession, Leading to Agitation: What starts as a means to pacify your toddler by giving him a gadget to play with, can soon turn into an obsession. This obsession can further lead to increased agitation and temper tantrums when parents take these gadgets away or refuse to give it to the kids. If you don’t want an agitated toddler, limit the extent of exposure to electronic gadgets, before your toddler gets too attached to them.
Stage 2 to 3 Years…. & Beyond
- Restrains Social Relationships: When kids and gadgets become inseparable, the attachment can stand in the way of your child bonding with family and friends of his age and he may not have any friends outside his electronic world.
- Increases Risk of Obesity: Increased time spent in front of the television or a computer leads to increased snacking, and eating habits that are not mindful. So, if, instead of moving around, kids are stationary and mindlessly snacking, the chances of child obesity get higher. This poses a risk to the child’s overall health.
- Less Focus on Studies: The more gadgets kids use, the more addicted they get. These addictions work like most other addictions. Increased screen time reduces the overall attention span of the child, making it hard for him to focus on his studies.
- Sense of Isolation: As increased screen time also subsequently increases the amount of time a child spends alone. When a child indulges into an electronic gadget, his entire focus is vested in that gadget. Naturally, he isn’t going to pay attention to external stimuli.
- Triggers Neck and Back Pain: Lost in their electronic world, kids hardly pay attention to their postures when using their gadgets. Constant engagement with gadgets causes back pain and effects other muscle-related postures of the child for a lifetime, if not looked after and corrected on time.
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