Don’t Use Your Device As A Gaming Tool For Your Child

New technology can amaze – so much so that it can be a source of addiction, with ever-growing influence on users. According to a recent survey of 1,000 parents with children aged 0-5, usage rate of smart phones is 80.4%. 3 year old children playing smart phones was at 32%, and even some 2 year olds can play with a phone or iPad.

Why do children use devices so much these days?

This behavior is due to parents’ own use of phones and tablets. Devices are a normal part of life, especially with WeChat and games, with less time spent educating children. 52.9% of parents admitted to giving the device to their children to ‘keep them quiet for a while’.

It’s a known fact that mobile devices produce radiation and that long-term use can be detrimental to physical fitness.

So what are the hazards that mobile devices represent?

It can severely impact the growth and development of children:

• Children acquire language through constant interaction, of which communication is a very important aspect. The acquisition of language is promoted through children’s imitation and parental correction. Doing this through a device lacks true communication, so it is not good for the language development of children.

• The potential hazards to children’s brain nerves are more serious. A test by the University of Auvergne showed that when children use a mobile phone, their brain absorption rate of mobile electron waves is 60% more than that of adults, so the risk of causing brain diseases is increased. Long-term exposure to mobile phone radiation will hinder the normal function of a child’s nervous system, leading to sleep disorder, headaches and lapses in memory.

• The eyes of children suffer the most from frequent use of mobile phones. If children use a mobile phone for more than 1-2 hours every day, their eyesight will drop to about 0.5 from 1.0 in three months.

• While using a mobile phone, children often keep the same position for a long time, as a result this causes a negative effect upon the development of cervical vertebra.

• Too much use of a mobile phone reduces the time for outdoor exercise and the reduction of physical exercise obviously affects height and weight.

Long-term use of a mobile phone renders a child used to one type of activity or habit, which restricts their experiences in the outside world and can even alienate them from other people. This can make them unsociable, and even stubborn and impulsive.

If all family members are addicted to their mobile phones, children will become unwilling to share details of their kindergarten life with parents. This can lead to misunderstandings between parents and children and deepen parents’ feelings of losing control.

Mobile phones can be dangerous and they need a structure and correct usage:

• Parents should be a good example in not using their phone too much and ensure that they are really communicating with their child.

• Strictly limit the use of mobile phones and only use the phone for crucial reasons.

• Encourage children to join in with group activities, to communicate with peers and to take part in outdoor activities, so as to broaden a child’s interest and vision.

• Buy children mobile phones with very simple functions so that a phone allowing contact with parents and teachers is sufficient.

In conclusion, children should not use mobile phones and devices much at all. Parents should create an environment in which real communication, outdoor fun social play are more important than just looking at a screen.