Technology for Children: Good or Bad?

Benefits and advantages of technology

Technology: a blessing or a curse? I think it’s safe to say that we can all agree that technology has a lot of advantages. This also holds true while raising a toddler. Here’s how:

1. Assisting new parents with health care applications to monitor their children’s health.

Technology now makes it possible to monitor your child’s health, thanks to the abundance of apps available online. These applications do all tasks, such as scheduling appointments and storing test results in one location. On such tools, parents may arrange medical visits and blood tests.

2. Ability to connect and communicate with their distant relatives

Online networking and digital media have greatly improved communication. With only a quick video chat or video call, your child may now hear his grandmother’s stories from far away.

Families may interact and develop ties with distant families, extended family members, parents who aren’t present physically, and grandparents using a variety of video chat programs. Toddlers can develop their social and emotional abilities via video conferencing. You may also view and speak to your child using technology when you are seated in protracted business meetings.

3. Parents may learn more about the health care needs of their toddlers

A vast amount of information may be found online. The internet has written, spoken, or documented everything under the sun in some way.

Nowadays, a lot of healthcare institutions offer important information on their websites. Parents may keep informed about their child’s health, cleanliness, and parenting abilities by using this trustworthy and useful information.

4. Knowledge and entertainment with remote devices

It comes as no surprise that young children are always bursting with energy. It is quite difficult to keep them occupied all day. At this point, you may utilise technology to keep kids occupied.

There is a tonne of advice on how huge make children use technology and time wisely on several television shows, channels, and podcasts. On the internet, they may learn DIY crafts, the alphabet, state capitals, and other useful skills.

Nonetheless, one must make sure the material is suitable for their age.

5. Children can develop social skills

Most of us used to avoid being in front of a camera or being in front of a crowd when we were younger. Yet, because to early technological exposure, majority of kids are already comfortable with cameras.

They develop their social skills to become more confident in the future while showcasing their performance abilities in films taken by their pleased mothers.

6. A toddler can access materials for preschool education

Television and iPads do help toddlers learn. They may recall brief TV sequences for two weeks by the age of 18 months, and children as young as six months can repeat basic behaviour they observe on TV up to 24 hours later.

Your toddlers’ knowledge can grow greatly with the aid of video conversations and interactive learning.

Addiction to technology

Technology and media use are quite common among kids between the ages of zero and three. About 75-96% of toddlers use the internet for more than 1 hour a day, which has an impact on their health.

According to research, when toddlers are dealing with challenging emotions, parents may use technology to divert their attention or to soothe them. It’s acceptable to do this occasionally. Over time, the youngster will suffer from this tactic, though.

Childhood is a key period to learn how to manage fundamental emotions. This aids in the development of their emotional response to the circumstance. Infants and toddlers are progressively becoming more reliant on technology, which raises the possibility that they will get addicted to it.

Technology usage and misuse must be controlled and observed. Technology addiction or technology disorder are more likely to emerge later in life if it is used to numb intense emotions.

Physical and psychological issues developed by excess use of technology in toddlers

1. Poor posture

Toddlers’ usage of mobile devices, or any other technology, may potentially result in musculoskeletal issues and bad posture.

How does your child slouch while using the tablet? to stare down at the phone or tablet while straining their necks. There is a significant risk of neck and spinal problems if they watch cartoons while dozing off or use a tablet while half-seated. According to a research, shoulder discomfort and upper back pain are becoming increasingly common in kids starting at a very young age. Ensure that your child takes regular breaks from electronics.

2. Sleep issues

Using electronics before night may interfere with sleep. Before going to bed, parents and toddlers should agree on rules regarding phone use. Research found that kids who use electronics before bedtime are more likely to experience morning fatigue, feel lethargic all day, and have trouble eating breakfast. The BMI ratio may be impacted by this.

3. Psychological conditions like isolation

Technology links individuals, yet it may also lead to isolation in some circumstances. Toddlers use their iPads all day long when confined to a room. Social exclusion and addiction to social media may result from this.

How to use technology responsibly?

Parents should consider the following options for their child’s usage of technology:

1. Do not give access to any technology device to toddlers under 12 months old.
2. Avoid screen time for children under 18 months.
3. Parents of toddlers between the ages of 18 and 24 months should select toddler-friendly programming and keep daily screen use to no more than 30 minutes.
4. Parents should teach their children how to use technology safely.
5. Teach your toddlers that media devices like tablets, phones, and other electronics are not toys and should be used with caution.
6. Discuss technology’s advantages and disadvantages with your toddlers. As children become older, this dialogue should become more in-depth.
7. Create guidelines that don’t appear punitive to them.
8. Encourage your youngster to play outside in the open air with their pals. Take a stroll with them outside. Pay them your whole attention.
9. One hour before night, put your phone or other electronics away. Their ability to sleep at night might be impacted by using technology or playing games.

Interesting alternatives to using technology

Babies are now being born and raising themselves in the technological environment. These are some steps you may take to protect your child from the dangers of technology.

1. Spend more time with your child and less time on gadgets. If you are working, enrol your child in a day-care centre, provide a space where they may play with their siblings, relatives, and friends, and engage more with the outside world.
2. Take them to the park to introduce them to playing with animals and making new acquaintances. Kids must be allowed to freely explore their surroundings.
3. At this age, babies are compelled to utilise technology and toggle the lock screen. All of the material they use should be used in their relationships with parents.
4. Stay away from idle screen time. Some parents believe that films are the only way for babies to relax. According to a research, parents or other adults need to calm and take care of upset toddlers. They don’t require a technological toy.
5. Use technology to engage your toddler by showing your child pictures of families, friends, pets, household items, and other toddlers.

Conclusion

Today’s society uses technology extensively. The proper use of technology, screens, digital media, and electronic gadgets may be advantageous.

Yet, one of the main concerns of digital addiction is the overuse and abuse of technology in youngsters. It is the responsibility of the parent to monitor the amount and type of technology their toddlers use.

Toddlers directly influence their parents’ behaviour. Children will benefit if parents use technology less, according to research. Go ahead and put it into practise as soon as possible now that you have a good understanding of how technology affects your child and how to use it appropriately