Technology and its Impact on Children

This scene might look fine, but its actually alarming !

In past few decades, with the advancement of technology, almost every aspect of our society has witnessed a drastic change in the way of working, socializing or in a nut shell ‘everything’!

Amidst these, the most visible change is in the behavior of children of the current generation. The way they eat, play, interact with each other or even the topics of their conversation, has all seen a radical change over the previous generations. Though, as parents, we might sometimes feel proud that our little ones are so well versed with the technology, but if we give it a closer thought, we are somehow ourselves responsible for pushing them to this seemingly beautiful marshland. Not to deny the positive aspects of technology that’s leading to improved ways of learning and education, yet there are several negative effects on the overall mental as well as physical development and quality of life.

Early start to a Sedentary Lifestyle

Earlier ‘Sedentary lifestyle’ was a term usually associated with office goes. But now with all the technical gadgets like computers, tablets, smart phones & television, even children are encouraged to be sedentary once they get back from school. They are more attracted to these devices, as opposed to going out in open and playing with other kids. No or very minimal physical activity in turn gives rise the child obesity, which has been on rise over the past few decades.

Devoid of Nature’s Blessings

When children are heavily reliant on technology for entertainment purpose, in addition to not getting sufficient physical exercise they also tend to be devoid of the benefits of spending time outdoors. They are missing the exposure to sunlight, which supplies body with natural Vitamin D and helps fight infections, keep skin healthy and moreover helps manage a regular sleep cycle by influencing the production of melatonin in the body.

Lack of (Sound) Sleep

We all know that the blue light emitted from devices like, mobiles, tablets etc. is harmful in more than one way, it can trigger headaches, eye strain and irritation in eyes. Furthermore, sleep is also disturbed by harmful blue light when children are exposed to screens in the evening as it suppresses the hormone melatonin which regulates the sleep wake cycle. Hence making it quite difficult for them to effectively prepare to get ready for a goodnights sleep.

Socializing restricted to mostly Online

Technology has changed the way kids socialize and interact with others. This is creating huge impacts on their mental and emotional well-being. High levels of technology usage, specifically social media can lower self-esteem and create negative moods. In fact, all types of technology when used in access can actually have negative effects on children, lower their frequency of real interactions with their peers. Though they are always connected with peers online, but due to lack of interaction with real people, their feelings and emotions do not get developed as they should be and they find it difficult to cope with situations arising in company of people, making it difficult to develop meaningful relationships with others.

This doesn’t mean that technology is completely bad, or that children should not use it at all. Technology does provide tons of positive opportunities for learning, entertaining, and socializing, but its usage should be well monitored. You may encourage responsible technology usage habit with your children using following tips:

• Instead of complete prohibition of technology, set daily usage limits.

• During using technology in the designated screen time, try to make usage purposeful. For eg. Encourage them to watch the shows they really enjoy, or use social media only when required to send message to friends.

• Encourage them to go out and play. Maybe you can sign up for some sports activity to keep them actively engaged.

• Set a good example as a parent. Children are more prompted to use technology when they see their parents using it endlessly. Follow a routine for your usage too.

Although navigating through this constantly developing world of technology can be quite tricky, one cannot deny the benefits of same. Overcoming the potential negative consequences of overuse with smart and limited usage, we can ensure peace of mind for both kids and adults.