Smartphones, Tablets, and Electronic Screen Devices - Boon or Bane

Introduction:

Children today have something dominating their everyday life, which was not present even a generation ago. Many parents are perplexed and confused about how to handle this new phenomenon. The ubiquitous gadgets like smartphones, tablets, iPad, and playstation, which can be fun and stimulating are the topic of discussion here. But, they are also potentially harmful devices that need to be managed sensibly. Children find these devices fascinating. They play games and watch videos. Older children and adolescents use it for social media to stay connected to their friends and peers. While there is no doubt that these devices are helpful, we also need to be mindful of their deleterious effects.

One common question every parent has in their mind all the time is ‘how much screen time is fine for their children?’. No definite answer can be applied universally to all children. Some guidance says that there is little evidence to show that screen use for children is harmful. However, there has been another recent study to show that children's psychological well-being starts to deteriorate after an average of one hour of screen viewing per day. If these devices are used appropriately, they will develop a child’s knowledge and help them in staying connected positively. Unsupervised and unregulated screen time can harm a child’s development and prevent them from having real-life experiences. Parents should make sure children’s sleep, exercise, and family time are not compromised by excessive screen time.

These devices have become an inevitable part of modern life. Parents simply cannot ban these from their children’s lives, as invariably, they will have access to smartphones through friends and peers. We can try and inculcate sensible use of these devices from an early age.

What Are Some of the Common Impacts of Gadgets on Children?

• Extended exposure to gadgets like smartphones, and electronic gadgets will affect the brain development of children and will result in conditions like attention deficit, hyperactivity, etc.

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• Certain studies suggest that exposure to gadgets for a longer period of time will delay language development in children.

• There are high chances of children becoming emotionally attached to these gadgets and withdrawal from them can influence them to throw extreme tantrums.

• Using these gadgets during their bedtime can deprive the children of sleep. This can keep them low the following day and it can affect their performances in school or academics.

• Motor development can be drastically affected due to this extended exposure to gadgets or increased screen time. Since children spend most of their time in front of gadgets and televisions, they fail to spend time outdoors. They do not get time to play sports or activities outdoors and thus, that will drastically affect their motor development.

• Certain health bodies have suggested that overuse of gadgets and extended screen time may affect the behaviors and values of children largely. These children may become more aggressive and lack family values.

• Psychological damages are one another threatening adverse effects of overuse of gadgets. It can make the children more prone to psychological conditions like anxiety, depression, etc.

What Are Some of the Suggestions to Maintain Screen Time Including Television?

• Set clear boundaries and stick to them. Agree with the child about sensible screen time daily (for example, it can be one hour daily with some flexibility during weekends and holidays). It may be difficult initially, but eventually, the child will come to accept the rules. This will prevent the child from getting glued to the screen and avoid the danger of developing an addiction. Along with this, the child should be encouraged to do outdoor activities.

• As parents, we need to be good role models. If we browse or use smartphones indiscriminately, children will follow them. Thus, it is important for parents to reduce their screen time, especially in front of children, thus, they can derive some inspiration from their parents.

• Avoid using smartphones and iPad during meals. It is important for various reasons. An important one would be the decreased salivary production if the individual is not looking at the food while eating. This may affect the digestion process largely.

• Avoid the use of these screens at least an hour before bedtime. The light from these screens has been known to disrupt natural sleep hormone (melatonin) secretion and contribute to poor sleep. So insist on switching off these devices at least an hour before planned bedtime. Rather, the child should be encouraged to read books before bedtime. This can improve various characteristics in the child such as communication, creativity, etc.

• Encourage lots of physical play. Take the children to parks, beaches, zoos, and other outdoor areas whenever possible.

• Help children to develop some positive hobbies according to their taste and aptitude. These need to be stimulating enough for them to engage consistently. Do not make the mistake of thrusting your interests into your children.

• Monitor social media accounts of teenagers tactfully. Teenagers would like their privacy, so discuss sensibly and educate them about the dangers of cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and related problems. Consider using parental control apps appropriately.

• To sum up, these screen devices are like a double-edged sword. It is the duty and responsibility of parents to teach their children how to use these devices safely.

Conclusion:

There is no doubt that gadgets are a boon to us in many ways, but it is a universal fact that it is affecting the quality of life for both adults and children. Gadget addiction is a real thing and proper monitoring should be done, in order to prevent the addiction from getting on to us. Following the above suggestions will help the children de-addict from gadgets. But it should start with adults. Adults should be role models.

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