- Most children pick up habits from the internet and if not properly observed by their parents, they may end up becoming a nuisance to both parents and society.
- "Time spent by a child on the machinery should be controlled, meaning it should be limited so that the children can be allowed to go and play."
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Raising a child in this time and era of technology can be challenging and scary.
Children are exposed to technology at a very young age and it's something we cannot stop as times are changing, but we can control how much they consume and what exactly they see.
In this generation, most children grow up focused on gadgets and are exposed to so many things both good and bad.
They pick up habits from the internet and if not properly observed by their parents, they may end up becoming a nuisance to both parents and society.
The question is how children can be raised properly while still incorporating gadgets into their lives.
In an exclusive interview with child psychologist expert Loice Noo, she stated that there is a specific age at which a child should be slowly introduced to the machinery and digital space which is at the age of three years.
"Time spent by a child on the machinery should be controlled, meaning it should be limited so that the children can be allowed to go and play outside," Noo stated.
Noo said some kids become addicted to gadgets and sometimes it's not their fault, their parents are at fault as they try to silence the children with gadgets whenever they cry for them.
As we know technological advancements are meant to make our lives easier but it also has its major drawbacks like any other idea or invention.
In another interview with expert psychologist Hope Vanessa, she stated that with every new invention and idea there are bound to be benefits and drawbacks and technological advancements are not any different.
She highlighted some of the benefits technology has for children. They include:
- Skill development
Technology provides interactive platforms and educational games that help children develop new skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity.
"As they master these skills, their confidence grows," Venessa said.
- Personalized learning
According to Vanessa, with technology, children can access personalized learning experiences tailored to their individual needs and learning styles.
This customization fosters a sense of accomplishment and confidence as they progress at their own pace.
- Creative expression
Technology enables children to express themselves creatively through various mediums such as digital art, music composition, and storytelling.
When they see their ideas come to life, it boosts their confidence in their creative abilities.
- Learning
Learning becomes more fun and less monotonous making it easier for the children to learn without getting bored.
She also highlighted some drawbacks of children's exposure to technology at a young age.
Drawbacks
- Addiction
She said when children spend longer hours on gadgets, they cannot tell reality from fiction (detached from reality) due to much exposure.
- Slow learners
They become slow learners since they are used to learning by viewing a screen, they find it hard to adapt to new forms of learning therefore making them slow learners.
- Poor communication skills
A child may lose their ability to communicate and relate with others as much of their time is spent on technological devices.
"It is easy to get addicted to the gadgets and one can easily tell if a person is addicted," Vanessa opined.
The first sign that your child is addicted to his or her gadget is that a phone, a laptop, or television is the first thing they want when they wake up.
You may notice that they also spend a lot of hours with the device, they no longer understand that the use of the devices has its specific time
They may even acquire an accent as children are easily influenced and it is at that point in their lives when they do a lot of intake of information.
Children may also lack the ability to express themselves verbally.
Vanessa also said that there are various ways how parents can address the issue of tech addiction:
1. Limit hours spent on the gadgets.
2. Ensure whenever a child is handling the gadgets they are under supervision.
3. Parents should be more present in their child's life.
4. Children should be encouraged to go out more to play.
She stated that children should go out more and avoid spending a lot of time indoors.
"To sum it all up, parents should learn how to manage children's screen time, monitor what they watch, allow them to play outside, and also spare some time to interact with their children."