The Impacts of Gadgets on Childrenccc
The number of children using gadgets is increasing each year. And this poses concern to doctors as the devices have serious consequences in the growth and development of kids.
Gadgets have become part of our daily lives and we influenced our kids with this lifestyle. Allowing them to use the devices at a very young age, some are even younger than one year old. To keep them entertained by playing games or watching videos. Which many parents take advantage of to have a momentary rest from babysitting.
However, handing gadgets to children also has disadvantages. Learn about the negative and positive impacts of gadgets on kids to better decide whether it's worthwhile to allow your kids to use these devices. Read through to see if the benefits outweigh the risks.
Positive Impacts of Gadgets on Children
Improve motor skills - when kids play games on handheld devices such as smartphones or tablets, they use their fingers and hands frequently. This is a good exercise for them to develop their finger control and hand-eye coordination which is important for growing children.
Improve cognitive skills - gadgets have various types of educational programs. There are interactive apps, games, and videos that can be downloaded which can help children develop their cognitive skills. On top of that, kids find gadgets more user-friendly than books allowing them to learn fast.
Keep kids away from injuries - children can spend hours with smartphones or any handheld devices without complaining. So, there's a minimum chance of them getting hurt as to when they are playing physically. There's no jumping, running, climbing, or bumping their head on the wall.
Lets parents rest - handing kids gadgets is an effective way to keeping them preoccupied giving parents plenty of time to rest. Taking care of children can be exhausting so many parents feel relaxed when their kids are sitting down and still.
No major mess in the house - one of the challenges of parents is keeping the house clean. Aside from childcare is time consuming, cleaning-up the kids' scattered toys is a repetitive chore, several times a day. Keeping kids preoccupied with gadgets prevent them from making mess in the house. This includes paintings on the walls and throwing random objects on the floor.
Negative Impacts of Gadgets on Children
Developing eye problem - the blue light from gadgets' screens causes eye strain which can result to myopia or nearsightedness. A condition in which the eyes have difficulty seeing objects at a distance. Moreover, too much staring at the screens can lead to eye dryness which is manifested by redness, itchiness, tears, and a sand like feeling in the eyes. Eye dryness can lead to eye inflammation and abrasion on the cornea's surface which can result in blindness.
Attention deficit - children who spend too much time on gadgets can develop ADHD-like symptoms. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a mental disorder that occurs on children. It is manifested by having trouble paying attention, poor focus, easily distracted, forgetfulness, and restlessness.
Learning problem - having an attention deficit can greatly influence children's ability to learn. Furthermore, gadgets can make children too preoccupied causing them to lose interest in doing other things.
Bad Behavior - pacifying children with smartphones, tablets, or computers is never a good idea. These devices are so addictive especially for kids. They can get too attached to them and won't want to stop using the devices. This can lead to tantrums each time the gadgets are taken away from them.
Poor social skills - time spend on gadgets is a time taken away from them to have a social interaction. Children may have fun playing on their own with electronic devices but they will need social skills to make real friends and have confidence to interact with other people.
Obesity - sitting on chairs with electronic devices on their hands for hours won't burn calories. Kids have to move their muscles to perspire, burn fats, and stay healthy. Obesity can be carried into adulthood which can lead to many serious health problems. Diabetes, heart disease, and stroke to name a few.
Gadgets can be beneficial to kids. They help improve cognitive skills, make learning fun, and keep children safe from injuries. The devices are also helpful to parents as they keep children occupied, giving parents a chance to rest or do other tasks. But it is critical to limit the use of gadgets for children as too much exposure to these devices has negative effects on them. Good guidance is necessary when allowing kids to use gadgets.