KITE School Navratri Celebrations!!!

The festive season was at full bloom in KITE School at Navratri celebrations. Each one was cutely dressed in traditional colourful dress. It was all glowing...

Parenting prudence in the digital age

Last week a couple came to my office with their two year old daughter to seek admission. While we talked the little bright girl took her mom’s mobile and started playing a game on it! She was handling the device with appreciable ease.  This is the newest generation growing in urban environment! They start using touchscreen gadgets before they learn alphabets.

The cutting edge technology is a part of their first perceptions of the world around. It is taken for granted. But the point is whether it is all right for kids or there are hidden harms. This is exactly what the father asked me. Let us ponder on it…

We cannot deny the fact that new technology and advancements have changed the way we interact, the way we perceive, the way we communicate, the way we learn, the way we behave, the way we plan, the way we think… in fact, the way we live. And this change is unique. Never ever in the history of mankind the virtual world had overwhelmed us with such enormity and velocity. Actually things are changing at such a speed that we aren’t getting enough time to evaluate and analyse the effects in detail.

However there have been continuous efforts to discuss and assess the effects in certain sections. It has been proven now that we must be discerning in what and how much use of the technology should be allowed to children.

It has been observed that unmonitored use of technology is affecting our children in some serious adverse manner. The most obvious influence is increased irritability and frustration in their behaviour pattern.

Kids get easily obsessed with these devices and any interference may cause annoyed reaction. This may result in exasperated personality over a period of time. Also it diminishes the tolerance level. And intolerant people are not great achievers. Mobile phones are not for kids. Beside other effects, kids are more vulnerable to its radiation.

Physical fitness is compromised. Watching the TV or computer screen for long hours is definitely hazardous for health. Moreover the kinds of images that are rapidly showered upon the child’s psyche during TV shows, promos, advertisements and games are another area of concern. Video games are the worst of all. Video games are created with profit in mind and not with concern for children. Rabbi Shmuley says, “Video games are to children what gambling is to adults: a waste of energy, a waste of time and a waste of resources.”

Technology should be properly incorporated in child’s life with supervised media. What and how much—these two parameters are simplest way to decide. Though I know it is easier said than done. But one should try to be aware and responsible. Our children are too precious to be ignored.