9 Effects GadgetsHow does it affect your child's development?
Technology and kids today is a sight you often see. A toddler holding a tablet, an infant with an iPhone in her mouth, what’s new? At one point, parents have great regard over gadgets as a way to pacify their children and as an entertaining and educational tool. But later on, it becomes an alarming sight.
Apparently, a research from Common Sense Media revealed the exceptional increase of children using gadgets such as smartphones and tablets have increased in just two years. From 38% in 2011, the biannual survey revealed that children below eight year old using mobile devices have gone up to 72% in 2013. Conducted on American parents themselves, the survey further showed the increase of toddlers’ gadget exposure from 10% to 38%. With this, the American Academy of Pediatrics discourage the tech use for children under the age of two saying that it changes the nature of childhood.
On the same year, the University of Wisconsin showed that toddlers are likely to respond better to video screens that initiates interaction, thus the pacifying effect of tablets to children. Common Sense Media founder Jim Seyer explains that these digital gadgets are changing the entire childhood lifestyle, even replacing TVs, toys
TVs, toys, playgrounds, and storybooks. “One-year-olds are now walking up to TV screens and swiping them because they think they are tablets,” he said. “They are becoming a part of childhood in ways that were almost inconceivable before.”
Kaiser Family Foundation reports that on average, children are spending almost seven and a half hours staring at screens. Moreover, children are now learning how to use gadgets first even before they could walk or even tie their shoe lace. Most parents who give in to their children’s whims can’t see the effects but governments and experts are calling on families to reduce their toddler’s exposure to these gadgets. What are the effects of modern gadgets on children? Here are ten reasons why modern gadgets impede children development:
1. Drastic Brain Development
During the toddler years, the brain triples in size and continues to develop until adult years. Studies have shown that too much gadgets may negatively affect a child’s brain on its functioning, and may even cause attention deficit, cognitive delays, impaired learning, increased impulsivity, and decreased ability to self-regulation. Smart Parenting advises parents to sing, read, and talk to their children than letting them play or watch TV at home.
2. Oh no! Obesity
Children who rely their playing time in front of screens rather than outside in the playgrounds do not burn the calories they take in. One in three U.S. children is obese, which may lead to complications such as diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. Parents must encourage their kids to play more. They must understand that there are many benefits of playing including having their children walk, run, jump and get the exercise they need. Children get fit at the playgrounds and build relationships. The Parents Zone encourages parents to expose their kids more into physical activity then inculcate technology in the later years of their kids for a healthier lifestyle as they grow.
3. Violence
Most parents have noticed that their kids learn to be aggressive due to long hours of playing games in their tablets. Tantrums are the most common form of aggressiveness among toddlers. As they grow older, children who are addicted to computer games are more likely to confront and disobey their elders. So as early as today, instead of relying on tablets to quiet down your little dynamo, opt for coloring books or balls. Take charge of your child today and know more about their behavioral changes with Janet Lehman.
4. Radiation Exposure
According to the 2011 report of the World Health Organization
cellphones and other wireless devices are considered category 2B risk because of their radiation emission. In December 2013, Dr. Anthony Miller from the University of Toronto’s School of Public Health revealed that radio frequency exposure is clearly a threat to children. Healthy Child Healthy World acknowledges this rising radiation issue among children and gives tips on protecting your child from these harmful gadgets.