Early exposure to smart technology- challenges of a new developmental paradigm in children

From the desk of Editor

Volume 12 Issues 6 June, 2022

The advances in the use of smart technology and gadgets have seen a giant leap in recent years. Every year new smartphones and computer devices keep storming the market and they have become an indispensable part of our daily life. Although it has made our life much easier in various aspects, we also must take time to introspect the challenges it has introduced into the normal developmental trajectory of our children. Nowadays it is not uncommon to see even a two-year-old kid holding a smartphone and scrolling the screen. Parents tend to take the help of cartoons and nursery rhymes to calm down their kids whenever they cry or during feeding time unaware of the fact that they are increasing the risk of gadget addiction in their children. Most of the time in the early developmental phase of children is spent glued to screens of tablets, computers, television, and mobile phones leading to a decline in social interaction. Recent studies have observed that early screen exposure and time spent on smart gadgets can delay speech development in children and increase the risk of autism. The vocabulary and language are also get limited to the content spoken in the cartoons and subsequently, children find it difficult to express themselves in appropriate situations. Working parents with no other family members at home find it more difficult to manage the temper tantrums of their kids and eventually resort to gadgets to pacify them. Consequently, these kids do not have an opportunity to develop interests of other nature and may become physically inactive. Once they get addicted to these gadgets it becomes practically difficult to keep them out of reach as the rest of the adult family members continue to use them in front of children. The situation has become much worse during this pandemic which naturally gave more exposure to smart technology due to lockdown restrictions and online initiatives. Internet and gaming addiction is also on the rise paving the way for a variety of emotional and behavioural problems in children. At this juncture, we all have a responsible question to answer, ‘Does early exposure to smart technology make our kids smart?’ To some extent, the answer may be ‘yes’ as the world is moving fast in an era of the digital revolution and the present generation must keep pace with it. However, a rational approach and appropriate use of smart gadgets could help us to mitigate its negative impact on our children despite its potential risks. Parents should adopt mutually interactive strategies with their children and limit the time of screen exposure. Innovative play games and outdoor activities in groups will help to improve the child’s communication skills and social adaptability. Caretakers at home can resort to more fun-filled methods to tackle situations accordingly rather than immediately giving gadgets to kids. The use of smart technology is a vital source of knowledge for the younger generation, but it should not confine them physically or emotionally.