Before the evolution of the electronics or mobile gadgets,
children were used to engaging themselves in a lot of activities that would add
value to their knowledge. Some would even gather around an old man or woman, to
tell them a midnight story. But gone are the days when children sought after knowledge;
these days, children rather prefer to spend countless hours on their
gadgets. Smart phones, iPad, tablets,
computer games and a host of others have taken over everybody’s senses, thereby
affecting children too, who now grow to become addicted to their gadgets. Gadgets
addiction is known to make children dull in school; they become so dull that
they are always punished by their teachers.
Do you as a parent know the hidden dangers of allowing your children get
too addicted to using gadgets? Below are reasons why you need to limit the number
of gadgets you allow your children access to.
Limited physical
activities: Children
need a lot of physical activities to be stronger and healthier. If you allow a
kid to play only with phone, computer games or tablet all day long, you are not
doing the child any good. We can’t deny the importance of computer education,
but it should not be at the expense of proper body and brain development. Physical
exercise is not only good for building muscles, but also essential for turning
the brains on. More physical exercise and less use of electronic devices will
help to improve grades, and also reduce behaviour problems. Just as the saying
goes, “all works and no play make jack a dull boy”.
Exposure to too much
radiation: The
problem with using cell phones and cordless phones too much is that the brain
is exposed to radiation; this has been linked to cancer. It is advisable that,
as a parent, you should limit the way your children use electronic gadgets,
including phones.
Lack of sleep: According to studies, kids who play
on their tablets or computers just before sleeping take longer to get off to
sleep, and they might not sleep well either. Some children are also in the
habit of crying once they are told to go and sleep when it’s getting late. But
as a parent, do not fall for it; if you spare the rod you spoil the child.
Children will take ages
to get their homework done: “I have a child that doesn’t like doing his homework just
because of games on his tablet that was given to him by his father,” says Mrs.
Chike. “It is always from one drama to the other, and I just had to hide it
from him. I always get to give him when they are on holidays,” she further
said. Doing their homework might seem like a multi-tasking job for them. As a
parent you just have to make the right decision, either to seize that electronic
device that is making them to forget about their school work, or you leave it
around them and see how they would always bring home poor results, or get
punished for not doing their homework.
Their brain development
may be at risk: Research
has shown that allowing toddlers of two or three years of age to play
excessively with mobile gadgets will affect their cognitive development
negatively. At this age it is very important that they develop some visual and
spatial skills which are essentially for healthy development.
Children may become
obese: When a child
is just used to sitting at a place, not engaging in some physical activities,
all he or she does is just to play on a computer, it will lead to obesity. That
child can be playing the game and be eating as well, and when he or she is
tired, that’s the exact spot he or she will sleep. It is better for you, as a
parent, to limit your child’s use of electronic gadgets, so that he or she will
not become obese.
It may affect their
vision: It is now
becoming more and more common for children to suffer from eye strain after
staring at screens for countless hours. This is sometimes knowns as computer
vision syndrome. Watch out for dry, red and sore eyes. Sometimes they may
experience blurry vision and have problems reading because of too much
brightness. The earlier you correct it the better.
These reasons are very important for you, as a parent, to
take into heart so as to give your children a better future.
By: Pupwaya Timothy Dibal
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