How technology affects child development? (Briefly Answered)

Children’s capacity to focus and their ability to form bonds, relationships, and social skills can all is severely impacted by technology. They are enhancing their social abilities. The number of children who are distant, shy, or afraid of social situations may rise. The more detail regarding How technology affects child development? Is mentioned below.

How technology affects child development?

The numerous recent technological breakthroughs present a distinct set of challenges for parents of today’s youngsters. We can’t ignore how technology changes our lives and the lives of our children. An estimated 96 percent of American households have a TV, and 94 percent of kids between the ages of 3 and 18 have access to the internet via a computer or smartphone.

By the time they reach 11, 53 percent of kids nationwide have smartphones, per a 2019 Common Sense Media study. As a result, parents must be familiar with how their kids use technology and its potential good and bad consequences.

Effects of Technology on Child Development

1.     Affects Emotional Development:

Technology may affect a child’s development even when it is just in the hands of parents and other primary caregivers. Children learn mostly via observation, as they listen to acquire the language, listen to discussions, see other people, read facial expressions, and witness how others deal with emotional circumstances. Overuse of screens robs kids of purposeful, engaged time with adults that are essential for emotional growth.

Dr. Gary Small, in charge of UCLA’s memory and growing older research division, says that relying too much on technology to communicate hurts older kids and teens’ social skills and may even make them less sensitive to how other people feel.

According to Catherine Steiner-Adair, a clinical psychologist connected to Harvard, the impact may be felt by young children as screen time. It takes the place of time previously devoted to playing, peer interaction, and exploration, which is thought to foster empathy, problem-solving skills, curiosity, intelligence, and listening skills.

According to Boston University researchers, mobile phones may inhibit kids from learning empathy, social skills, and problem-solving techniques.

2.     Limits Interpersonal Interactions:

Using a mobile device to keep kids busy can lessen their social engagement. Children who are constantly armed with technology will never learn how to navigate an interaction with a friend, parent, or sibling. That may be essential to solving the problem long-term, whether the need at hand is reconciling with a friend or sibling, amusing themselves on a long trip, or winding down at night.

Technology may provide older kids and teenagers with a distraction from difficult situations like not fitting in at school or fighting parents. But rather than developing the interpersonal skills necessary to deal with these problems as adults, children and teenagers may discover that technology can provide the appearance of safety.

3.     Stagnates Physical Activity:

Technology use requires a lot of sitting time. The activity requires users to be mostly stationary, even with portable devices. This also suggests that this passive activity has mostly supplanted vigorous indoor or outdoor playtime, given the enormous amount of time kids spend with electronics these days. In severe circumstances, kids or teenagers engrossed in a video game or other media may even neglect other necessary activities, like eating or sleeping.

4.     Hurts School Performance:

Children with short attention spans may perform differently in the classroom. One experienced English teacher told the New York Times that cell phones and social media make students “too distracted to do their homework.” Marcia Blondel stated, “You can’t become a competent writer by watching YouTube, texting, and emailing a bunch of acronyms.

Additionally, the paper mentioned how technology trains our brains to routinely switch between tasks, which might result in shorter attention spans. Children’s brains are rewarded for moving on to the next task rather than staying on task, according to Michael Rich, executive director of the Center of Media and Child Health in Boston.

This could result in “a generation of kids in front of screens whose brains are going to be wired differently.” According to anecdotal evidence, some teenagers acknowledge they would rather watch a short movie than plod through a required book.

According to other research, the presence of a computer, even one used for instructional purposes, may only be a distraction. Jacob L. Vigdor, an economist at Duke University and researcher, discovered that kids were more likely to use their home computers for enjoyment than for academic purposes when left to their own devices. Adult oversight is essential.

5.     Reduces Self-Soothing and Self-Regulation:

Anyone who has ever reared a toddler will attest to the wonder of distraction in controlling a tantrum. But today’s parents have technology at their disposal as a seductive diversion. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that children’s ability to learn how to self-soothe and regulate in those situations may be significantly impacted by the distraction of mobile devices, even though the instant handing over of a cellphone or tablet may quiet a furious preschooler.

6.     Increases Aggression:

Numerous studies have discovered a connection between simulated violence, frequently featured in well-known video games, and increased aggression, including one by the Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the Journal of Youth and Adolescence. Children and teens who experience violence are reported to be less empathic, more prone to quarrel with peers or teachers, and more likely to be affected by violent acts.

7.     Harms Attention Spans:

The impact on children’s attention span is possibly the issue that is brought up the most frequently when it comes to technology and kids. The study supports this worry. Jim Taylor, Ph.D., suggested in Psychology Today that children’s increased exposure to computers may be rewiring their brains. Why? A child’s brain is still growing and malleable, unlike an adult’s.

Children exposed to technology frequently may develop an internet-style of thinking in which they swiftly read and analyze information from various sources. A youngster exposed to high technology levels may develop brains adapted to frequent visual stimulation, quick change, and minimal need for imagination.

In contrast, prior generations may have spent much more time reading, imagining, or engaging in activities that need focused concentration.

Positive Impacts

Depending on how it is employed, technology can also positively influence our lives and the lives of our children.

• Organization: Technology can help with planning and organization. For instance, Families can use an online calendar to keep track of one other’s schedules more easily. The convenience of group text messaging for facilitating communication and Ensuring that everyone is informed Last but not least, technology facilitates budgeting with several apps that might assist parents in teaching their kids about money management.

• Research and critical thinking: The internet offers easy access to a wealth of Information and tools to aid in teaching kids various subjects. For this is beneficial. Research for assignments in school or pursuit of interests this may also serve as a lesson. Moment, I taught kids how to sort through data to locate trustworthy sources.

• Bonding and community: By enabling children to stay at home, technology helps promote connection. They remain in contact with distant relatives or friends. Children can converse as well. Playing video games online allows them to interact with people in their age group and develop teamwork skills.

• Self-expression: Teaching kids how to express themselves online is beneficial as their Effective instrument that can increase self-assurance. They can pick up social skills and be exposed to different perspectives or viewpoints.

• Creativity and exploring interests: Technology encourages creativity and Learning new skills using numerous applications for people of all ages. Children can investigate various topics they are interested in, like learning an instrument, creative Programs for beginners in writing or many topic areas.

Conclusion:

Parents want to know how technology affects child development. Children can benefit from technology with fewer drawbacks if parents and other adults help. Parents should first prevent young children under two from using devices. They can also play with the kids to integrate face-to-face interactions with technology and ensure that technology does not obstruct possibilities for play.

Additionally, parents should model responsible smartphone use, set reasonable time restrictions, and enforce proper boundaries. Systems and software for cybersecurity can ensure that children use computers safely. Apps that encourage language, arithmetic, reading, and science can be found by parents, teachers, and others.

To provide children with the chance for a successful career in technology, adults can assist in ensuring that they learn about computer science and IT as part of technology use.

Sources:

Dr. Gary Small: in charge of UCLA’s

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