Today’s most sensitive issue: KIDS EXCESSIVE TECH USE
Educate yourself and your child on how, when, and how much to use technology.
Today the most difficult reality which a parent confront is their children’s excessive usage of technology.
We are in the most ripped era of technology in full bloom.
Everyone and everything is interdependent on technology that it has become inevitable to get separated from them.
Also, we are compelled to live with gadgets, or else we cannot grow in the world today.
As a result, parents must not only supervise their children in the physical world but also teach them about the virtual world.
Technology has influenced our children to such an extent that one will be astonished to find 2 years old seems to understand the iPod better than me or you.
Not to talk about teenagers who are creating vexation among parents with their overuse of mobile. This situation needs serious insight. It has become highly essential and compulsory to teach our children about the proper use of technology in a healthy way and pick up the skills and habits that will make them successful digital citizens.
Study shows, that to maintain tech harmony at home, parents should follow some basic guidelines and establish a rule for the family:
***Self-educate and be a role model:
A parent requires extreme caution because the child will always try to emulate your behavior. We must resist attractive technology, monitor our mobile phone use, spend less time on our laptops, and share less on social media. We must not portray “distracted or talking while walking” to our children.
Parents must immediately discontinue “TECHNOPHERANCE” or should not interfere with their child's time with mobile or other because it negatively impacts a child’s psychology and makes them feel ignored.
This pathetic remark by 4 years old girl commenting enviously on her father’s smartphone as “STUPID PHONE” says it all.
So, balancing work and family time will be really beneficial. Consider setting out specific times when you won’t be using your device, such as when picking up and dropping off children from school, when you get home from work, at meals, on outings, or while on vacation.
Managing your children’s time should come first, even if you are inherently busy.
Good family digital well-being begins with parents demonstrating healthy relationships with their phones or technology.
****A Balance approach:
Today, kids are getting more dependent on computer tools, and the world is becoming more digitally driven. This empowerment enables youngsters to study more effectively and with greater enjoyment.
Children are showing digital creativity as if they are getting ready for digital tomorrow.
On the contrary, parents are in dilemma with their excessive use of digital devices or availing inappropriate content which may hamper both mental and physical hazards among their children.
Parents need to make their children understand the use of screen time limits and the importance of balance between online and offline activities.
They must try to preserve time for outdoor activities which is most vital for their physical and mental health.
***Alarming sign of unhealthy tech use
Jon Las, a psychologist, in his book “TECH GENERATION: RAISING BALANCED KID IN HYPER-CONNECTED WORLD” advises parents to note the alarming sign when;
- When children don’t have access to the internet, they claim that they are bored or unhappy.
2. When you set screen time limits, tantrums or fierce opposition arise…
3. When screen usage disrupts communication with others in person, sleep, and learning.
***Adopting tech as a family affair
The family must imply some tech rules where every member of the family must involve. Such as making plans on how to use technology at home by following certain guidelines among the members or observing functions, going on a vacation, doing dishes, etc.
We must make media work for us within our family values.
Setting strict limits on family screen time, a child will learn how to self–educate and know when screen time is to be used.
Parents need to involve themselves with their child's tech experiences. They must play or watch alongside with which vet child content, as well as the child, will also benefit through your interaction. Moreover, both of them will share a strong bond and will also be together in the virtual world.
To sum up……..
Besides all these, I personally feel the main anathema towards this crisis is that we, as parents must encourage our children into more physical activities, sports, music, dance, etc. from a very early age.
It is we who will introduce techy gadgets to them.
Every control lies in our hands.
A child will feed on what their parents will provide.
So a thoughtful and apt use of media will certainly enhance a child’s capacity but inappropriate use can displace many essential activities such as face-to-face interaction, outdoor play, exercise, sleep time, and many more which will result in dangerous health hazards.
Keywords: screen time, use of technology, child, parents, gadgets
