Effects of Gadgets on Child Development

Technology has become an integral part of our daily lives, from smartphones and tablets to gaming consoles and smartwatches. While adults are still relatively new to the concept of ever-changing electronics, our kids have been used to it right from the start. This digital immersion has raised significant concerns among experts and parents alike. Can kids and gadgets coincide harmlessly, or is it detrimental to their development? The effects of gadgets on children are a topic of much debate, but the verdict often rests on the latter thought. Despite the growing body of research highlighting potential issues, many parents seem oblivious to the fact, as they expose their kids to the harmful effects of electronic gadgets. This unawareness could have long-lasting impacts on the well-being and future of our children.

Why Kids Are Addicted to Electronic Gadgets

It comes as no surprise that kids and teens are addicted to gadgets such as smartphones or video game devices and can’t spend an hour without them, let alone an entire day. For some kids, playing with electronic devices is not just a part of life; it’s the only thing in life. Of course, they have their parents to thank for that – those who seem to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to the ill effects of placing an electronic gadget in their young child’s hand. If you are the parent of a child below the age of 15, and you have gadgets all over the place, you might want to take a look at how those gadgets are being used by your child. Here are a few reasons why children are addicted to electronic gadgets:

• When they’re young, you hand over your phone to them willingly to keep them occupied or quiet. This is how it starts.
• Kids may want a mobile phone or a video game because their best friend has one. This is when it aggravates.
• Eventually, physical play time turns into digital game time, where kids enjoy competing with one another online, be it in their Snap streaks, or Candy Crush.
• The way social media platforms are engineered, they’re addictive! Kids can become obsessed with what others have to say online.

10 Effects of Electronic Gadgets on Kids

It’s a fact that kids are more vulnerable to spending time on electronic gadgets than adults. Digital screens have a much greater impact on the overall development of your child than what meets the eye. Take a look at some ill effects of electronic gadgets on kids below:

1. Hampered Cognitive Development

Your baby’s brain develops at a rapid pace from the time he is born. Research has shown that overexposure to gadgets can result in slow cognitive development, attention deficits, and even impaired hearing. So, from the time that your baby learns to utter his first few words, the only person reading, singing songs and nursery rhymes, and talking to him should be you, and not some fictitious character on the TV or tablet.

2. Builds Obsession, Leading to Agitation

What starts as a means to pacify your toddler by giving him a gadget to play with can soon turn into an obsession for him. This obsession can further lead to increased agitation and temper tantrums if parents take these gadgets away or refuse to give them to the kids. If you don’t want an agitated toddler, limit the extent of exposure to electronic gadgets before your toddler gets too attached to them.

3. Delays Physical Development

Toddlers should be strolling around in their walkers or playing with blocks and other toys instead of being glued to the TV all the time! Lack of physical activity is bound to result in delayed physical development and even childhood obesity, which is alarmingly on the rise, considering the amount of time children spend on gadgets.

4. Restrains Social Relationships

When kids and gadgets become inseparable, the attachment can stand in the way of your child bonding with family and friends of his age. Keep this up, and your four-year-old could grow up to become a social recluse without any normal friends outside his electronic world.

5. Increases Risk of Obesity

About one-third of the children in the US are obese, making child obesity a leading health concern for most parents. The American Academy of Paediatrics has estimated that the average child spends upwards of seven hours watching television, browsing the Internet, and playing video games each day. It’s thus evident enough that children spend a good chunk of their time gazing at some type of screen instead of actively indulging in physical play. Moreover, increased time spent in front of the television or a computer leads to increased snacking and eating habits that are not mindful. So, if, instead of moving around, kids are stationary and mindlessly snacking, the chances of child obesity get higher. This poses a risk to the child’s overall health.

6. Less Focus on Studies

The more gadgets kids use, the more addicted they get. Mothers all around the globe are worried about the time their children spend watching television or playing video games. These addictions work like most other addictions, acting as a major motivator for the child, which is why the child finds it very difficult to focus on studies in the formative years. Increased screen time reduces the overall attention span of the child, making it hard for him to focus on his studies.

7. Sense of Isolation

As increased screen time reduces overall social time, it also subsequently increases the amount of time a child spends alone. When a child indulges in an electronic gadget, his entire focus is vested in that gadget. Naturally, he isn’t going to pay attention to external stimuli. When you agree to get your child a new electronic gadget, you are unintentionally nurturing a child who will be potentially socially isolated. This can shape his personality as he grows older, which should be a cause of concern.

8. Strain on the Eyes

Electronic devices are the main cause of eye problems in children. Overuse of gadgets results in dry eyes, causing multiple eye infections. It can also affect vision itself. The blue light emitted by display screens prevents the release of melatonin, an important sleep-inducing hormone. This leads to sleep impairment in children.

• Too much contraction of eye muscles can make it difficult for them to relax easily, causing pseudo-myopia.
• Parents are advised to keep their children away from gadgets or screens, and not hand it to them unless it’s really important.
• Watching the television from a distance is much safer than staring at a gadget kept very close to the eyes.

9. Triggers Neck and Back Pain

Lost in their electronic world, kids hardly pay attention to their postures when using their gadgets. Constant engagement with gadgets causes back pain and other muscle-related issues in children. Poor sitting posture triggers neck pain, which results in sore neck muscles. Neck and back aches at a young age are very harmful for kids since they tend to affect the posture of the child for a lifetime if not looked after and corrected on time.

10. Radiation Exposure

Did you know that holding wireless gadgets too close to the body can increase your child’s exposure to radiation? Wireless gadgets emit radiation, which is absorbed by the child’s body at a rate that is higher than that in adults. This radiation exposure can cause cancer and other health risks.

How to Limit Child’s Exposure to Electronic Gadgets?

Here are some strategies to limit a child’s exposure to electronic gadgets:

• Create Gadget-Free Zones: Designate certain areas in your home, like the dining room and bedrooms, as gadget-free zones. Encourage family interactions and activities in these areas to promote face-to-face communication and bonding.
• Encourage Outdoor Play: Motivate your child to engage in outdoor activities and sports. This helps divert their attention from gadgets and promotes physical health, creativity, and social skills.
• Introduce Alternative Hobbies: Encourage your child to explore interests such as reading, drawing, or playing a musical instrument. Providing alternatives can help reduce their reliance on electronic gadgets for entertainment.
• Monitor Content: Keep an eye on the types of content your child is accessing on electronic devices. Use parental controls and discuss appropriate and inappropriate content to ensure they are engaging with age-appropriate material.
• Plan Family Activities: Organize regular family outings or game nights that do not involve electronic devices. This can strengthen family bonds and demonstrate how enjoyable life can be without constant gadget use.
• Educate About the Effects: Talk to your child about the potential negative effects of excessive gadget use, such as eye strain, poor posture, and decreased social interactions. Educating them can help them make more informed choices about their gadget use.
• Create a Balanced Routine: Help your child establish a daily routine that balances screen time with homework, chores, physical activity, and downtime. A well-rounded schedule can minimize the appeal of gadgets as the main source of entertainment.
• Reward Non-Gadget Activities: Use positive reinforcement to encourage your child when they choose non-gadget activities. Praise their efforts and occasionally reward them with experiences or privileges rather than more screen time.

Screen-Free Activities for Children

Here are five screen-free activities for children:

• Imaginative Play: Encourage your child to engage in imaginative play using toys like dolls, action figures, or building blocks. Creating stories and scenarios allows them to develop creativity and problem-solving skills.
• Gardening: Introduce your child to gardening by helping them plant seeds or care for a small garden. This activity teaches responsibility and patience while connecting them with nature and understanding where food comes from.
• Music and Dance: Have a music and dance session at home. Play different types of music and let your child dance freely or play musical instruments like tambourines, maracas, or a simple keyboard to explore rhythms and sounds.
• Science Experiments: Conduct simple science experiments at home using household items. Activities like making a volcano with baking soda and vinegar or creating a homemade lava lamp can spark curiosity and a love for science.
• Storytelling: Encourage your kid to create and narrate their own stories. They can write them down, draw them as comics, or simply narrate them to you. This helps enhance their language skills and stimulates creativity.

FAQs

1. How do gadgets affect a child’s sleep patterns?

The use of gadgets, especially before bedtime, can disrupt a child’s sleep patterns. The blue light emitted by screens can interfere with the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. This can lead to difficulties falling asleep, irregular sleep schedules, and insufficient rest, which may affect a child’s mood, concentration, and overall health.

2. Is there a connection between gadget use and a child’s creativity levels?

Gadget use, especially when involving structured or passive consumption like watching videos or playing certain games, can limit opportunities for creative thinking and imaginative play. This reliance on digital entertainment may stifle a child’s ability to engage in open-ended play, reducing opportunities for innovation and creative problem-solving.

3. How do gadgets influence the development of fine motor skills in children?

Excessive gadget use can impede the development of fine motor skills in children. Activities such as typing or swiping do not provide the same range of motion and dexterity as traditional play, like building blocks or drawing. This limited engagement can delay the development of fine motor skills, impacting tasks that require precise hand movements.

So, these were the harmful effects of gadgets on children’s health. Prevention is better than cure, as the saying goes. Limit the use of any gadget, and it is no longer harmful. Kids don’t need a gadget to keep them occupied when there is so much more that they can do at that age – after all, we managed to grow up just fine without the world of technology encroaching upon our territory, didn’t we? So why expose your child to gadgets for entertainment? Allow them to grow up normally, using dolls and building blocks, puzzles and cricket bats, books and footballs. They’ll be grateful that you did!

References/Resources:

1. Ricci.R, Costa de Paulo. A, Borges de Freitas. A, Ribeiro. I, et. al.; Impacts of technology on children’s health: a systematic review (Revista Paulista de Pediatria); National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9273128/; July 2022

2. Zain. Z, Jasmani. F, Haris. N, Nurudin. S, Gadgets and Their Impact on Child Development; MDPI; https://www.mdpi.com/2504-3900/82/1/6; September 2022

3. Children and gadgets; UNICEF; https://www.unicef.org/belarus/en/stories/children-and-gadgets

4. Rashid. S, Mawah. J, Banik. E, Akter. Y, et. al.; Prevalence and impact of the use of electronic gadgets on the health of children in secondary schools in Bangladesh: A cross‐sectional study (Health Science Reports); National Library of Medicine; https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8485597/; December 2021

5. Fitriahadi. E, Tyastiti. V; The impacts of the use of gadgets on the development of children 3-6 years of age (The Southeast Asia Journal of Midwifery); https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342050175_THE_IMPACTS_OF_THE_USE_OF_GADGETS_ON_THE_DEVELOPMENT_OF_CHILDREN_3-6_YEARS_OF_AGE; June 2020

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Impact of Social Media on Children
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Impact of Working Parents on Child Development
Harmful Effects of Using Mobile Phones on Children
Impact of Television (TV) on Children – Positive and Negative Effects