Essay 4

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TOPIC:
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Technology is changing every day, and will forever be a staple in our lives. The
effect that technology has on our children has brought on some concerns and
some praises. Discuss the impacts that digital technology has on children.

● You should write an essay of at least 250 words.

● Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task Fulfillment,
Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar.

Write your essay below the line.

In today’s world Technology is everywhere. We use computers for

almost everything in everyday life, including “babysitting” our children.
Computers can have both positive and negative effects on children, while
some of the negative effects on health and development are unseen. As
adults, we understand the physical world around us and the concepts
inside computer programs. Children, on the other hand, need to learn this
with traditional play and outdoor activities. Adults, over about 30, know the
world without computers. Our younger generations are starting to use
computers at very a young age.

They are maturing in a world of instant answers and satisfaction. The first
of many issues is obesity. Computers are contributing to our growing
epidemic of childhood obesity. Children no longer go out and entertain
themselves with physical activities, like riding bicycles, playing outdoors
with friends and sports. They are now leading more sedentary lives
watching television, playing gaming systems, texting on phones or
socializing on the internet.

In fact, “the reported screen time varied greatly by age, however, ranging
from 2 to 3 hours per day for ages 2 to 7, to nearly 6 hours per day for ages
8 to 13”. (Subrahmanyam, Kraut, Greenfield, Gross 2000 p 125) Our
Children need to be guided and supervised so they get the benefits of
technology, but not to cross the fine line to cause ill effects. There are also
negative, unseen physical and psychological effects of technology. Carpal
tunnel syndrome and tendonitis have been reported in repeated over use of
wrist and thumbs. Seizure activity has also been report due to the flashing
effects on the screens.

To help reduce these problems, children should take breaks every 20 to 30

minutes. The break will not only rest their eyes, wrists and hands, it also
increases circulation and relieves tension. In addition to negative physical
effects, there can also be negative behavioral and social effects, as well.
For instance, many children now have their own computers, televisions and
gaming systems in their bedrooms.

“The computer often may be used in solitude, robbing children of time for
social activities and interfering with the development and maintenance
of friendships.” (Subrahmanyam, Kraut, Greenfield, Gross 2000 p 131)
Often too much isolation can lead to loneliness and depression. Children
need to learn self-control and how to pay attention without computers. They
can achieve this by giving them plenty of play time outdoors to stimulate
imagination and learning. Gaming systems have been linked to negative
behavioral effects and “The potential for violent games to cause increases
in hostility and aggression. Such games are also believed by some to
desensitize players to violence and to other peoples’ suffering”. (Debell,
Chapman 2006 p 4) Majority of children are aware of the rating system for
videos and games, while majority of their parents are not.

Parents need to not only limit computer and gaming time, for children. They
need to supervise them and keep technology and content age appropriate.
On the other hand, technology can have a positive effect on learning and
education. Computers can help children from preschool age up through
college. Younger children play more learning and educational games to
assist in school readiness, In one study, two groups of preschoolers were
tested for school readiness. One group (experimental) participated in
computer assisted learning, while the second group (control) was given a
traditional curriculum. “The experimental group performed significantly
better than the control group on the school readiness test”. (Li, Atkins,
Stanton 2006 p 239) This test did not have any evidence for motor skills
that children also need. Finally, Older and College bound students are
using computers for online education, communication, information and
research.

The internet provides a vast amount of information that is available at your

fingertips and the click of a button. Technology has also made it possible to
attend school online, which for working adult. This is a great advantage to
be able to continue education on a tight schedule. Even, as older students
and adults, we need to pay attention to the information accessed and the
time we spend on the computer. “The American Academy of Pediatrics
advises parents to limit time spent with media and to emphasize alternate
activities and physical play”. (Subrahmanyam, Kraut, Greenfield, Gross
2000 p 140) Computers have become an important part of everyday life
and people will grow more dependent on them as technology progresses.
Technology is not a cure for schools, but can be part of the improvement
for learning as long as it is used correctly, with caution, awareness and
well supervision. This can help children benefit from computers while
avoiding the possible problems. Technology will continue to enhance and
stimulate learning, but further studies and research, on what is beneficial
and its effects are needed.

Effects of Technology on Children DeBell, M., Chapman, C. (2006).

Computer and Internet use by students in 2003 (NCES 2006-065). U.S.
Department of Education. Washington, D.C: National Center for Education
Statistics. This study was conducted by U.S. Department of Education,
Institute of Education Sciences. “This report uses data from the October
2003 Current Population Survey (CPS) to examine the use of computers
and the Internet in nursery school and students in kindergarten through
grade 12. (DeBell, Chapman 2006). It addresses computer and internet use
by parent (education level and income, household types, Spanish and not
Spanish only, metropolitan and poverty status) and student (grade level,
sex, race/ethnicity, physical disability status and public or private school
enrollment). They further break these areas down into number of students
and Internet use locations (own or someone else’s home, school or public
library) and reasons for computer/internet use.

There are multiple tables and graphs for me study and compare. It helps
me to see how these statistics contribute to the effects on children. I am
able to use the information in this study to compare the findings to that of
my other sources and see how close their findings are. Li, X., Atkins, M. S.,
& Stanton, B. (2006).

Effects of home and school computer use on school readiness and

cognitive development among head start children: A randomized controlled
pilot trial. Merrill – Palmer Quarterly, 52(2), 239-263. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/230095046?accountid=158686 This
study reviews the effects on Head start readiness testing using computers.
The children were tested in the areas of: school readiness, visual and gross
motor skills, and cognitive development. They performed an initial test and
a follow up test of the children, months later, and compared the results.
They found that the children, ages three to five years, who used computers,
scored higher with computers in school and home. They divide the results
by age, sex income, siblings (younger and older), parent level of education,
access and frequency of use, to computers outside of school. This study
assists me in using younger children in my comparison. It is important to
find and maintain the fine line of beneficial and too much. Subrahmanyam,
K., Kraut, R.E., Greenfield, P.M., Gross, E.F. (2000).

The Impact of home computer use on Children’s activities and

development. The Future of Children; Fall 2000; 10, 2; ProQuest
Psychology Journals pg. 123-144 This research covers many different
factors involved in the effects, both positive and negative, on children’s use
of computers and its effects on them. It addresses the displacement of
other activities (physical and social), physical wellbeing (obesity, tendonitis,
seizures), cognitive skills development, academic performance, gender
gaps. As well as, social development and relationships, social effects of
computer gaming, moderation, children’s perception of reality, links to
loneliness, depression and violent behaviors and greater access to
information. They have included tables that explain the computer game
rating system and communication option available online. The touch on all
these subjects but because technology is fairly new more research is
needed to further study to long term outcomes.

Technology is one of the principal driving forces of the future; it is

transforming our lives and shaping our future at rates surprising in history, with
profound implication which we can’t even begin to see or understand. In today’s
world we are plagued with technology. The technology which surrounds almost
everyone in the modern society, is changing every day, and will forever be a staple in
our lives. Kids in the current generation are enamored with technology. Although
perhaps it is not that they adore technology so much but the simple fact they have
never lived without. Technology has had a significant effect on children that has
brought on some concerns. Our common concern has been that although digital
technology has boosted children’s talent for multitasking, their ability to process
information deeply may be deteriorating (Carpenter, 2000). There is vast amount of
technology in today’s world, but there are three main component of technology that
is having the greatest impact on children: video games, television/media, and
computers. The modern technologies we have today are tremendously powerful;
they attract our genetic biases. The human brain is attracted to visually presented
information. Video games, television, movies and computer programs are all very
visually oriented and therefore they magnetize and keep the attention of children.

The technology which is just now beginning to be manipulated and harnessed is

affecting the minds of small children and adolescents in ways that could be harmful.

By far the largest concern of technology today is video games. There have been so
many experiments and studies to try and figure out if video games have a negative
or positive effect on our children. A growing body of research is linking violent video
game play to aggressive cognitive, attitudes and behaviors (D.A. Gentile, 2004). Video
games can obviously be dangerous for our children causing aggression, bad
performances in school and obesity. Although we cant blame all of these problems
on the use of video games, there have been many studies to prove so. Boys do seem
to be more attracted to video games than girls are, Adolescent girls played video
games for an average of 5 hours a week whereas boys averaged 13 hours a week
(D.A. Gentile, 2004).

The effects of both violent and non-violent video game playing can be determined
by the amount of time playing the video game and by the content of the games
being played. The content of the games being played could definitely have a factor
in how a child performs in school, and how aggressive they are towards peers and
teachers. Obviously if a child is playing hours upon hours of violent video games, this
can lead to them acting out violence and having no consequences for it. If a child
took the time that they played video games a week and used that time to be
engaged in reading, homework or even a creative activity we’d have less issues with
our children’s school performances. Parents should really be monitoring how long
their child is playing video games, but this doesn’t always happen. A child who plays
video games for long periods of time could also build up a social wall, become a
loner. It is important for children to interact with other children in order to help
develop their social skills, which without will make it very difficult to make it in this
world. At the age children start playing video games, it is hard for them to
distinguish what is reality and what is not. So in some cases the violent acts in video
games could make the child believe the world is a scary place.

More than a thousand scientific studies and reviews conclude that significant
exposure to media, and video games of violence increases the risk of aggressive
behavior in certain children, desensitizes them to violence and makes them believe
the world is a ‘meaner and scarier’ place than it is (Tompkins, 2003). Children who are
playing endless hours of video games are also said to have less hobbies and
activities, which may lead to obesity. Obesity in young children has become an
overwhelming problem these days. They are now making “fit” video games such a
Wii Fit, which involves actual movement and exercise. Video games like these are
excellent especially if your child just needs to play a video game. There are
educational video games out now, more and more are surfacing. The amount of time
children play these is completely different than the amount of time children are
playing violent video games. Educational video games obviously can do a lot for your
child, they can improve vocabulary, mathematics, and some fitness. So increasing the
time they are interacting with educational video games is said to have a very positive
effect on them.

Even though they make video games with the intent to be entertaining, challenging
and sometimes educational, most of them do include some form of violence. Recent
content analysis of video games show that as many as 89% of games contain some
violent content and that about half of the games include serious violent content
towards other game characters (D.A. Gentile, 2004). It is now a known fact that
playing violent video games increases aggressive behaviors, increases aggressive
cognitive, increases aggressive emotions, decreases pro social behaviors and
increases physiological arousal. So people do say that children who already have
aggressive tendencies get therapy from playing violent video games. By releasing
their aggression on playing a video game, they are less likely to be aggressive
towards others. Then others believe that violent video games maybe even more
harmful to the children who were characteristically aggressive already. Because
violence is such an attractive part to a video game, companies will continue to keep
selling violent video games, to make more money. Although now they do usually list
the rating on the game, but who’s to say that parents will take any interest in the
rating. Most parents are to blame for their children playing violent video games, how
else would they get the game? Parents need to be held responsible for the effects
that violent video games have on our children, they need to be monitoring them
more closely.

Recent research has shown that connections between children playing violent video
games can cause later aggressive behavioral problems. In retrospect studies have
also shown a twelve percent increase in aggressive behavior after watching violent
television as well (Tompkins, 2003). For many years it has been apart of the
repercussions that television has on children. Now we have those special chips called
V-chips to put in the TVs to block certain programs or channels. But who knows what
your children are watching when they go to a friends house, or even at school.
Exposing your children to some violence almost seems inevitable, everywhere we
turn there is some kind of violence on some kind of new piece of technology. Endless
hours of watching television may be thought of as somewhat entertaining to a child,
but it has such negative effects on them. TV is consistently reinforcing gender-roles
and stereotypes which isn’t always a good thing to show our children. A child should
be out running around, exploring their environment, participating in activities and
sports. Children who view media violence are more likely to have increased feelings
of hostility, decreased emotional response to the portrayal of violence and injury that
lead to violent behavior through imitation (Tompkins, 2003).

During the first 2 years of a child’s life, the brain is at a critical developing period.
Television can get in the way of a child exploring, learning and spending time
interacting with their parents and other children. Having time to play with others
helps kids develop the skills they need to grow cognitively, physically, socially and
emotionally. If parents limit the television that their pre-school age child is watching
it can be a good thing as long as what they are watching is educational or age
appropriate. If you allow your children particularly ages 2-7 to watch shows or
movies with scary monsters, they will remember those scary faces. Children this age
have a hard time distinguishing between real and fantasy, so to tell them that
monsters don’t exist, wouldn’t really console them. While kids 8-12 are usually scared
by natural disasters, the threat of violence and victimization of kids. Many shows or
movies now a days depict risky behaviors, such as sex and substance abuse. They
portray these things as cool, fun and exciting, and there is often no discussion about
the consequences of these actions. More and more now we are seeing alcohol ads
on television, and more underage children are being exposed to them. Over sixty
percent of television shows being shown in prime time contain some form of
violence (Tompkins, 2003). They are now linking child obesity to over watching of
television which includes four or more hours a day. While watching television kids are
usually inactive and usually snacking. Kids are getting overwhelmed with the many
ads on television encouraging them to eat unhealthy foods. The ads are meant to
target children, by showing sugary cereal, or sugar filled soft drinks. Children are
being manipulated by advertising companies, so then they beg and plead with their
parents to buy them exactly what they have seen on television. In another study of
preschoolers (ages 1-4), a child’s risk of being overweight increased by 6% for every
hour of television watched per day. If that child had a TV in his or her bedroom, the
odds of being overweight jumped an additional 31% for every hour watched.
Preschool children with TVs in their bedroom watched an additional 4.8 hours of TV
or videos every week(Dennison, 2002). Parents should treat watching television as a
privilege, maybe not allowing television in their child’s room will help reduce the
percentage of overweight children. Its simple, reduce the amount of time your
children are doing nothing with their minds or body, and increase the amount of
time they are exploring things and participating in physical activities. So over all its
apparent that watching too much television isn’t healthy for any child of any age, or
even any adult.

While boys tend to be more attracted to violence on television, girls tend to be more
attracted to the teeny bopper shows. Some of these shows include situations that are
not likely to ever happen, or that are too mature for the child whose watching them.
The image that most female television/movie stars, and models are giving to young
girls is that the skinner you are the better. We are in a vein world, where somehow
everyone got the impression that its not alright to look healthy, better to be overly
skinny. Eating disorder experts say prepubescent girls are developing eating
disorders as young as 5 and 6 years old. They may be getting their obsession from
parents who are preoccupied with their own body images, and media images of
skinny stars like the Olsen twins, or even Kiera Knightly, whom stars in a very popular
movie series Pirates of the Caribbean. Which is a movie directed towards the younger
crowd, considering it is a Disney movie. If we take a look at the figure of Barbie,
who’s body is considered to be perfect, yet no girl or woman could achieve a body
like this, this figure is a definition of beautiful. Unfortunately the only way to help
change the outlook of body images is to help our children know its ok to be a
different shape than someone else, to teach them its not okay to poke or make fun
of children who are bigger sizes. This is not something we need to change just for
our children but also for ourselves and our world.

Some programs that may seem age appropriate for our children, are still showing
some sort of sexual activity. Young girls are getting the image that it is okay to
engage in some sort of sexual activity, even if that is just kissing. Some of these
shows are saying that having a relationship at a young age is okay, kids need to be
kids and not worry about relationships until they have at least approached puberty.
Blaming only television and technology for these acts is unfair, because parents have
a lot of effect on their children as well. Children are just getting the wrong message
from a lot of these shows, that premarital sex is the thing to do, that even something
as simple as kissing is okay. This all depends on the age of the child, some parents
need to make sure that the shows their child is watching is age appropriate. Maybe
some parents need to watch a couple of minutes of the show their child wants to
watch and get the feeling, and voice of the show to determine whether its
appropriate for their child.

Children are natural ‘manipulators’ of the world-they learn through controlling the
movement of and interaction between objects in their world: dolls, blocks, toy cars,
and their own bodies. With television, they watch and do not control anything,
computers allow interaction. Children can control the pace and activity and make
things happen on computers (Perry, 1999). Computers are becoming apart of
everyone’s daily lives. We have them at work, home and even at school in children’s
class rooms. Computers like all technology have their pros and cons. Obviously the
computer can open up a world of intelligence for children, you can look up and
explore anything you want on the internet. Studies indicate that the media can
promote pro-social behavior, that some computer games can hone visual
intelligence and that classroom use of the internet links children with distant mentors
and resources, enriching the way kids learn (Carpenter, 2000). Computers are now
being used as a learning tool, we have access to them, we might as well try and use
them for good. Technology offers children a sense of empowerment and provides
kids with the tools needed to solve problems (Goessl, 2002-2008). Educational
websites, and games are at the reach of our children’s hands, not to mention if they
want to know everything to know about Alaska, or who holds the record for chewing
gum the longest, they can. Computers can have a great influence on developing
hand- eye coordination, since it does take this skill to type and use a mouse. But still
the time they spend on the computer should be limited, because kids still need social
interaction, and physical activity. We must encourage our children to develop the
ability to think first and then give them a computer (Fanning, 2007).

Even though we can see many positive outcomes from children using computers,
there are also many negative views. Computers are being introduced to children
younger and younger these days. Which is making our children lazy, they can now
type papers that automatically spell check for them, they don’t even have to go to
the library to do a research paper, the computer puts all information at a click of the
mouse. While it is a nice way for children to communicate with their friends, whatever
happen to hand writing a note. Our kids are talking in chat rooms, to who knows,
they could be talking to a sexual predator. We have seen this in many cases, the
world is such a crazy place and we have to do the best to protect our children from
it. Hours and hours of computer use can also be physically damaging to children
causing bad posture, hand problems and can effect their eye sight. A child who is
always on the computer can cause a lack of social skills. Children need interactive
time with peers and adults to really develop correctly. On the computer our children
can come across things that aren’t age appropriate for them such as violence, and
sex. All they have to do is type in a word and somehow it can be referenced to sex,
and link them to a pornography site.

Computers are now being linked to as a factor to anti-social behaviors, primarily

because computers are replacing normal social activities. Anti-social personality
disorder is characterized as a gross disparity between behavior and the prevailing
social norms. Children who constantly use the internet as a form of socializing can
develop social anxiety disorder or a internet addiction. You may think that young
children cant have an internet addiction, but today it is becoming more common.
Some children would rather rush home and get onto the internet rather than go play
outside with friends or do a creative activity with their parents. Children are isolating
themselves from the ‘real’ world with the excessive use of computers. They are only
knowing the web world.

Some may not realize it but cell phones do have an effect on our children. In fact
they say that children under the age of 8 shouldn’t even use one. Cell phones can not
only cause brain tumors, but also impaired cognitive functions. Scientist have now
discovered that even a two-minute cell phone call can alter the electrical activity of a
child’s brain for up to an hour after the phone call. This finding has lead many
doctors to believe that the disruption in brain activity can lead to psychiatric and
behavior problems and can impair learning ability. The alteration in brain waves can
lead to aggressive behaviors, lack of ability to learn and memory loss. A study found
that children who used cell phones, and whose mothers used cell phones during
pregnancy were 80 percent more likely to have behavioral problems such as
emotional symptoms, inattention, hyperactivity and problems with peers compared
with children who had no cell phone exposure as fetuses or in early childhood.
Children whose mothers used cell phones during pregnancy but who had no other
cell phone exposure were 54 percent more likely to have behavioral problems (Roan,
2008). Excessive cell phone usage can also be linked to an earlier onset of
Alzheimer’s disease. Many parents have no idea how a cell phone is

impacting your child’s brain. Some scientist have found that cell phone transmissions
damage the ability of white blood cells to ward off infectious diseases by disrupting
the immune system’s electromagnetic communications. The biophysicist from Lincoln
University in Christ Church, New Zealand has also found that cell phones can
murderously modify moods. In brains and bodies seriously derailed by tiny
imbalances in trace minerals and hormones, depression, suicide, anger, rage and
violence can result when calcium and serotonin levels are disrupted by cell phone
transmissions (Thomas, 2004). Its amazing that all of this time we have been
exposing our children to something that is unrecognizably harmful to them.

As we can all recognize, technology today is vastly growing, and is out of our hands.
What we do have control over is how much of that technology we expose our
children to. It is inevitably up to the parents to monitor and react to the technology
being used by their children. This may not seem very serious to some parents, but
more and more we are seeing children, young adults walking into their classrooms
and shooting theirs peers and teachers. All because maybe they played one too
many violent video games growing up, or have felt like an out-cast due to a social-
anxiety disorder which can be caused by dissocializing yourself with video games,
computers and even television. Even though not one research conducted could really
prove either positive or negative long term outcomes of technology, it is apparent
that technology does have a great effect on our children’s lives and developmental
behaviors. Technology has many effects on our children today, but how couldn’t it
when our society is transforming into a technology world. Children these days will
never know what life is like without technology so it is important to make sure we
use the technology we have for what its worth. Although there are many negatives to
the use of technology, we need to embrace the ever changing world, and just learn
as parents to pay attention to what our child is doing.
Works Cited

 Carpenter, Siri, 2000. In Digital Age, Experts Pause to Examine

Effects On Kids. http://www.apa-org/monitor/dec00/digital.html
 Emele, Love, 2002-2008. Technology: Its Effects on Children.
http://www.helium.com/items/392511
 Fanning MD, Iris, 2007. Television & Computer Effects on Learning
and Emotional Intelligence. http://ezinearticles.com
 Gentile et al, D.A., 2004. The Effects of Violent Video Game Habits
on Adolescent Hostility, Aggressive Behaviors, and School
Performance. Journal of Adolescence 27.
http://www.sciencedirect.com
 Goessl, Leigh, 2002-2008. Technology: Its Effects on Children.
http://www.helium.com/items/613503
 Lehmann, Max. 2002-2008. Technology: Its Effects on Children.
http://www.helium.com/items/361089
 McCormick, 2008. Side Effects of Cell Phone.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com
 Perry, Bruce, 1999. ECT Interview: Bruce Perry Discusses the Effects
of Technology on the Brain. http://content-scholastic.com
 Science Daily, 2007. Most Middle- School Boys and Girls Play
Violent Video Games. http://www.sciencedaily.com
 Thomas, William, 2004. Cell Phone Health Effects/ Busy Signals.
http://willthomas.net/investigations/articles/cellphones.html
 Thompkins, Aimee, 2003. The Psychological Effects of Violent
Media on Children. http://allpsych.com/journal/violentmedia.html
Impact of technology on kids today (and
tomorrow).

Hand a smartphone or tablet to a toddler, chances are they’ll figure out how to open
it and make some in-app purchases in a matter of seconds. The technological boom
means that children are becoming computer experts at a very young age. Elementary
school kids have classes on computers, and many of them have been using their
computers and tablets at home well before they started school. As kids are learning
from a very young age about technology, they’re making huge strides as they grow in
being prepared for schooling, future careers, innovation, and more. Your kids may
even be able to help you with your online coursework at WGU!

However, with all this constant immersion in technology, there are some very real
concerns about how this tech impacts childhood development. We are wandering
into unknown territory as generations past have never had this same kind of constant
technological immersion. But experts are starting to see what technology at this level
can do to children and their future. Many of our WGU students are parents, and we
want to help you
Children and technology: benefits and
drawbacks.
Kids have access to screens all around them. Many homes have multiple television
sets, computers, tablets, and phones for children to find and play with. And some
children even have access to their own tablet and phone, starting at a young
age. Research shows that the average 8- to 10-year-old spends almost 8 hours a day
with a variety of media, and older children and teenagers spend around 11 hours per
day with media. That time adds up, and young people are spending more time with
technology than they do in school. 

Children and teenagers around the country aren’t cutting down their media
consumption either. Some teenagers say they send thousands of text messages each
month, stay up until 2 AM scrolling social media, and spend hours each day playing
video games. And this has continued to get more intense over time, as more apps and
options arise to distract kids.

While many people see the negative impact of such technology usage, there also
pros. The real question is what can parents and teachers do to harness technology in
useful ways, without letting kids become slaves to it and the negative effects it can
have on their lives.
 Negative effects.
Learn about the negative effects of technology on young children and teenagers.

 Lower attention span. Teachers, parents, and students themselves find that

technology can have a direct impact on attention spans. The immediacy of
technological interactions make waiting harder for children. With technology, they
aren’t forced to wait. They can have their TV show immediately, they don’t get bored
because they always have something to entertain them. Technology moves fast,
instant responses and instant gratification are impacting attention spans for young
children and teenagers alike.
 Increased risk and lack of privacy. Teenagers and children have grown up in a
technological world, and the idea of privacy is somewhat foreign to them.
Cybersecurity is a huge element of tech today, but it isn’t always perfect. Hackers and
criminals can utilize technology to steal identities and harass children. Technology has
created an increase of theft, privacy issues, harassment, and more. The IT industry is
in need of cybersecurity professionals who can help make technology more safe for
children, so consider getting started on your degree today.
 Risk of depression. Teenagers and children who report more time using media
are more likely to also report mental health issues. Depression is a key issue that is
correlated with more media use. This has increased suicide rates and has lead to more
youth needing mental health interventions like medicine and counseling. Experts
believe time spent on social media or using technology can directly be tied to
increased depression.
 Obesity. Children who spend more time inside on their phones or tablets don’t
spend as much time running and playing outside. They establish habits of technology
use that doesn’t involve exercise. This can lead to increased obesity rates in children
and young adults.
 Falling grades. Many students today can see their grades take a hit when they
spend more time with technology. Increasing technology usage means less time spent
on homework, and the kind of developmental changes technology can bring can make
students struggle with homework like reading and writing. 
 Bullying. As technology flourishes, so does bullying. Children and teens are
using technology and social media to bully other kids, without having to face them.
Often called cyberbullying, this trend is increasing and getting more popular with
even younger students. 
 Social interaction issues. With more time spent on technology, younger
children are having issues with face-to-face social interactions. Many seem to prefer
to text or talk on social media as opposed to talking to each other in-person. Even
when children spend time together, they may spend more time texting or on their
phones than actually being together. 
 Positive impacts.
While there are many negative impacts that can be connected to technology use,
there are many positive impacts as well. 

 Helping them learn. There are many educational elements of technology that
can help children learn. From TV programming to apps on a smartphone or tablet,
there are many things that children can be exposed to that can help develop their
mind and teach them new things.
 Classroom tool. Many teachers have started using technology in classrooms to
help students learn. Technology helps teachers reach different kinds of learners,
reinforce and expand on concepts, and motivate students in new ways. As more
teachers embrace technology, new kinds of learning can take place in classrooms, and
more students can be reached in ways that they relate with. 
 Preparing for future tech careers. As technology continues to grow and
flourish, there will be more demand for professionals ready to take on technology
careers. When children start getting excited about technology and the potential it
offers them from a young age, they’re more prepared for their future and the
possibilities it offers. Children can start getting technological skills early that they’ll
need in the future. If you’re a young student who has the technological background
you need for an IT career, consider an IT degree to build your credentials and get you
started on the path. 
 Improved multitasking. Studies show that using technology helps young
children learn how to multitask more effectively. While multitasking never allows you
to fully focus on one area, students can learn how to listen and type to take notes, or
other multitasking activities that can help them succeed in their future. 
 Improved visual-spatial development. Spatial development can be greatly
improved when technology like video games is used to help train young students and
children. Practicing visual-spatial skills with video games can be a great way to
improve abilities. Visual spatial skills are needed in a variety of things, like map
reading, puzzles, and more.
 Improved problem solving and decision making. Technology often presents
children with problems, and helps them learn how to make decisions and solve those
problems. Games and apps on tablets or smartphones can help give children the
practice they need to find success down the road. When students wisely use
technology they can reap huge rewards.

How adults can help.

Parents and adults can help children get the benefits of technology with less of the
negative effects. Parents can start by ensuring children under two don’t use screens.
They can also play along with children to include face-to-face interactions with
technology, and make sure that tech doesn’t interfere for opportunities to play.
Parents should also work to set appropriate boundaries including time limits, and
model good smartphone use. Cybersecurity software and systems can help ensure
that kids stay safe while using technology.

Parents and teachers can watch for quality apps that promote vocabulary, math,
literacy, and science. Adults can help make sure kids learn about computer science
and IT as part of technology use to give them opportunities for a bright tech future. 

The Benefits of Using

Technology in Educating School
Children
By

 Vinay Prajapati
 -

Dec 21, 2019

The introduction of educational CDs and DVDs for school children has
made studies very interesting for students as well as parents. These tools
provide children with real-life examples helping them to easily understand
what is being conveyed to them. These CDs and DVDs help the children in
their overall development by familiarizing them with technology and their
uses.

Table of Contents  hide 
A Wide Selection of Educational Materials

Extra Benefits of Learning Through Educational CDs and DVDs

Where to Buy educational CDs and DVDs?

Educational Laptops and Tablets

The Perks of Having a Laptop

The Benefits of Tablet PCs

A Wide Selection of Educational Materials

Today,  there is a wide range of educational CDs and DVDs for school
children of all ages, available in various stores as well as online. They help
in transforming our passive system of learning into an interactive one
with the help of high-quality graphics and videos along with text, that
help children retain things in their memory for a long time.
Depending on the age and the requirement of the child, parents can
choose from a large range of CDs and DVDs. These can include topics like
numbers, ABCs, Shapes, rhymes, colors, stories and more. For older
school kids looking for help with their academics, there are other DVDs
and CDs in subjects like math, science, English, and others. These DVDs
and CDs can be used for home learning where they can understand
various concepts clearly.
Extra Benefits of Learning Through Educational CDs and
DVDs
 They provide a good overall experience for children
 Preschoolers can easily learn pre-reading skills with the
help of these digital tools
 School going children can easily understand the
concepts through various graphical representations and
illustrations.
 Practice sessions using the tools can enhance their
knowledge considerably on various topics.

Where to Buy educational CDs and DVDs?

Educational CDs and DVDs are easily available online through various
stores. Parents can order them online and get them delivered to their
homes. These online stores also offer various discounts and offer to their
customers making the deal more attractive. Using these educational CDs
and DVDs is very easy as they are enabled with the Autoplay feature
which helps play the CD or DVD automatically. However, in case of any
assistance, there is a user manual as well, that provides instructions on
using them.

Educational Laptops and Tablets

Educational laptops and tablet PCs help teachers impart their ideas in a
more feasible manner to students. The students, on the other hand, find
it very easy to understand the various concepts and ideas involved in
their subjects. Most of the educational tablets come with a host of
features. The portable lightweight and compact in size.  In addition, they
come with a comparatively cheaper price tag as well.

The Perks of Having a Laptop

A child can find everything they might require for their learning purpose.
From various mathematics-related applications to easy access to
information related to science and technology, these are an ideal choice
for students who wish to excel in their academics. They have access to
information whenever and wherever they require, thanks to the enhanced
connectivity features these devices offer. Most of the devices come with
inbuilt wifi/GPRS/3G connectivity features.

With the help of pre-loaded and interactive games, studying can be made
more interesting. For smaller kids, educational laptops usually come in a
wide range of colors. Custom themes and designs make these devices
more appealing to younger kids.

The Benefits of Tablet PCs

Tablet PCs help children explore their creativity and come up with
innovative ideas. Tablets for kids are designed to help them a lot. It
makes them learn while having a great and fun time without even
knowing that they are actually learning. This makes the tablet a very
special one for children.

Many tablets from various brands are available in the market, which
comes with loads of features for school children. From learning math, e-
books and grammar programs to games like angry birds, tablets for kids
usually have enough entertainment to keep the little ones always busy.

These tablets can be used as a storage device for saving valuable data
and have the option to be used as a small media station on which children
can watch various informative videos and audios. In short, these
educational tablets and laptops are a great choice for school going kids
and teachers as well.
 The Positive and Negative
Effects of Technology on
Kids
VICTORIA VAN NESS



Victoria is a stay-at-home mom, author, educator, and blogger at Healthy at Home.
She currently lives in Colorado with her family.
Photo by Hal Gatewood on Unsplash

You probably already have this whole article mapped out in your head. Everyone
knows that excessive technology in the lives of children is harmful. Is it what they are
watching? Is it the harmful rays coming from the screens of their phones, televisions,
computers, and iPads? We also know that technology can be extremely beneficial.
As a parent myself, I know that I want my child to be computer savvy. Technology is
the wave of the future, right? Kids are getting degrees in technology so they can join
big companies producing the next phones, cameras, and recording devices, and
tackling even bigger ventures like space travel, drones, pilotless aircraft, and much
more.

Did you know that big names, like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, won’t even let their
children use technology, but are waiting until their kids are older to expose them? It
makes you wonder why…I personally love ABCMouse. With it, I can work on my
business while the baby sleeps almost uninterrupted, and all the while, my three year
old is learning how to spell, rhyme, add, subtract, multiply, and even learning about
money and the planets. I know that while he’s busy working, he’s benefiting a great
deal from what he’s doing and it shows in our daily conversations and activities.

So why all the hype about technology? How could it possibly be so bad for our
children? Is it just too much technology that’s harmful or even just a little? Hopefully,
I can answer some of those questions for you. I write this article from a place of my
own where we are struggling with balance when it comes to technology in our
household with two busy children full of questions. We have ABCMouse on the
computer, the occasional video about construction trucks on our phones on Sunday
mornings as a treat, and Disney and Bible story based movies on the TV every now
and then, but even these have become a problem.

There’s nothing bad he could be exposed to in the selective content we’ve provided
him on the occasional basis he’s provided it, but there’s still an issue. When he’s
exposed to even a little, our three year old becomes obstinate and unruly. He
instantly becomes demanding, with screaming, kicking, hitting, and lots of crying to
follow. However, when he isn’t exposed to any, he’s sweet and respectful and
wonderful. We’ve tested it out many times now and the change in him is astounding,
in both directions. I’m writing this seeking answers to my own questions as well.
Photo by Domenico Loia on Unsplash

What Qualifies as Technology?

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children,
technology refers to digital and analog materials, including software programs,
applications (apps), broadcast and streaming media, children’s television
programming, e-books, the Internet, and other forms of content designed to facilitate
active and creative use by young children. This means phones, tablets, iPads, CDs,
DVDs, television, streaming video, computers, car monitors, or anything else
electronic, even including video calls to grandma. We as a society have become so
attached to our technology that sometimes it’s difficult to discern what even qualifies
as technology.
Photo by Diego Passadori on Unsplash

Why Is Screen Time Bad for Young

Children?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) discourages screen time all together
before children turn the age of two years old. Although, how realistic is this for most
of us? Don’t we need to be able to put the kids down for a little bit and wash dishes,
fold laundry, or just get a break every now and then? Since they first said this, the
AAP has altered their statement to include small portions of interactive screen time
with the parent asking questions and getting involved with their children while
watching certain programming. Note that they specify that the programming needs to
be beneficial for the child, or of some educational nature, not just Seinfeld. “While
many apps and television shows are marketed as being educational for young
children, countless studies have shown that even the best of them cannot compete
with real-life activities and human interaction.”

There’s also the issue of gross motor development at this stage. Small children are
learning how to crawl, walk, run, climb, skip, jump, leap, roll over, take things apart,
put them back together, fill things up, empty them out, and so much more. Sitting at
a computer or television, or playing on a phone or tablet, does not allow children the
opportunity to explore and develop these valuable skills. In fact, it does just the
opposite. The addictive nature of technology keeps them glued to the screen, and
the sheer time spent with screens tends to delay their development.

They’re not developing that whole body understanding of where they are in space,
how they’re interacting with materials. For parents who are looking for educational
activities for toddlers, playing with blocks actually teaches a more valuable and
developmentally appropriate lesson.
Photo by Gaelle Marcel on Unsplash

How Technology Is Changing the

Way Children Think and Focus
Obviously, there’s a great deal of material that we don’t want our young children (or
even older children) exposed to. One story I’ve read told of children getting ahold
ofPeppa Pig look-a-like videos that showed the characters of this seemingly
harmless cartoon cutting themselves, killing their parents in their sleep, and even
blowing up their house in the middle of the night using “magic” in the kitchen. One
moment you look down and your child is watching Peppa Pig, and the next you’re
taking her to the hospital for something outlandish like setting the house on fire.

Although the content is a big concern when considering technology, the bigger
concern is that screens are actually affecting the very way their brains grow and
develop as well.Preschool and kindergarten teachers report kids who are more
impulsive and less able to wait their turn, make transitions, engage actively in
learning, and calm themselves when they’ve had a setback—generally work and
play well with others.
Photo by Philip Veater on Unsplash

What Explains a Child’s Behavior

After Using Technology Though?
There are some really scary facts surrounding technology today. “Research has
foundthat an eighth grader's risk for depression jumps 27% when he or she
frequently uses social media. Kids who use their phones for at least three hours a
day are much more likely to be suicidal. And recent research has found the teen
suicide rate in the US now eclipses the homicide rate, with smartphones as the
driving force.”

The ability of your children to learn to focus effectively and consistently lays the
foundation for almost all aspects of their growth and is fundamental to their
development into successful and happy people. With the advent of television and the
internet though, children were thrust into a vastly different environment in which,
because distraction is the norm, consistent attention is impossible, imagination is
unnecessary, and memory is inhibited. Just last month, the American Academy of
Pediatrics released a study that said while digital and social media can help early
learning, they also come with a host of risks, including negative effects on sleep,
attention, and learning, along with a higher incidence of obesity and depression.

Even more unfortunate, with technology and immediate reinforcement of desires

within a game, children are not learning to identify or manage their emotions, they
are being taught to have low attention spans, and are essentially trained that they
can have exactly what they want when they want it. This is how it works in the video
or computer game, doesn’t it? Even a short exposure to these “abilities” on any sort
of technology can immediately change the behavior of our children and change their
outlook for the rest of the day.

For instance, my child may play computer games for 30 minutes, and the time
comes to shut it off. He doesn’t want to shut it off. Instead of being the sweet boy I
know and love and saying “okay!” and moving on to something else, he gets angry,
starts screaming and crying and hits me. Technology also moves much faster than
everyday life. So while watching a movie, he may start running around, throwing his
brother’s toys away from him, laughing loudly and acting like he just drank a cup of
coffee. I think the speed is just addicting and it’s hard to slow yourself down and be
calm when just exposed to the fast pace and excitement of the characters on the
screen. Even sitting in a grocery basket after watching cartoons in the car is difficult,
made worse if the characters were behaving badly.
Photo by pan xiaozhen on Unsplash

How to Avoid Letting Technology

Weaken the Bonds in Your Family
In her book, The Big Disconnect, Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair has a lot to say about
how electronic devices are changing the lives of children, especially their connection
to the important people in their lives. Between children that are always on their
tablets or watching television, and parents that are always on their telephones,
children are missing a huge part of their development, from vocabulary and
communication skills to self-esteem, understanding their emotions and controlling
responses, and developing a secure sense of self.

Essentially the relationship and interaction with friends and family members that
builds social skills and awareness, important cognitive skills, problem-solving abilities
and individual personalities are gone. Have you ever sat at a restaurant and noticed
all of the families that are on their phones. From the oldest to the youngest member
are all on some sort of technology, sitting at a restaurant, paying good money for an
experience, to all be involved in their own worlds, not even aware of another
person’s existence. Or are you guilty of being one of these families yourself?

There is even an argument now that some kids who are diagnosed with ADHD may
be showing symptoms, instead, of fragmented family life and parental inattention
rather than a disorder of their own. Isn’t it worth looking into?

Consider setting some media guidelines for your children, no matter what age they
may be, and for yourself as well as long as we are going there. Set limits on when
you’ll be on your phone and when you’ll give your children your undivided attention.
Think about leaving your technology in the care when you go into a restaurant so
that you can model family interaction, show your kids how valuable they are, and
engage in family bonding. Plan some family activities that exclude technology like
going to the park, having a picnic, playing a board game, or seeing who can build the
tallest block tower. You could even make use of books in your home. Wat too many
studies show the extreme value in reading to or with your children and discussing the
stories with them.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

The Benefits of Technology on

Young Children
Benefits! I thought you just said that technology is bad for children. Learning for
young children is driven by human interactions, explains Shelley Pasnik, director of
the Center for Children & Technology. Pasnik’s research has shown that when kids
watch shows like PBS’s Peg + Cat, which teaches early math skills, with parents or
caregivers they retain significantly more than when they watch alone. “The more
parents were involved and used the strategies, the more likely kids were going to
experience the benefits of the media,” she notes.

Watching media together also gives parent and child a shared language with which
to communicate when they’re not watching, explains Matt Rouse, a clinical
psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. “By really being involved you can get more
mileage out of those lessons and adapt and use it in everyday life.” The one-on-one
interactions with your child are what’s truly important. They are going to learn from
you doing it with them, whatever it is, and walking them through it, rather than simply
watching on a screen. You can’t discount how important you are in your child’s life
mentally, emotionally and physically.

In addition, technology, when used correctly, can actually have a very positive effect
on your child’s development. Studies have found that our ability to identify key
information buried within a cluster of characters and visual stimuli (advertisements)
are greater. In addition, regular interfaces with technology can lead to improved
hand-eye coordination, multi-tasking, and reaction time. Technology is not all bad. It
just needs to be controlled.
 Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

Not all technology is bad, and you don’t have to be burdened by the restriction of no
technology at all if that doesn’t seem reasonable to you. Other than inappropriate
content, which we should all be seriously concerned about, as long as we are
responsible in setting limits, making sure to stay involved as much as possible while
they are watching, and making sure to make time for plenty of conversation and
other one-on-one interaction with our children, there doesn’t need to be any guilt.

Technology can have many benefits for kids when used correctly and under
supervision, but many just use it as a babysitter for their kids because they don’t
have the time or the interest in playing with their children. I totally understand the
argument of using it as an educational tool, and even the infrequent use of it just to
get a break so you can do some necessary things around the house. The problem
comes with misuse and assuming that an environment filled with technology will
prepare your children with the ability to whether the new and growing use of
technology in the future.

The bottom line is that too much screen time and not enough other activities, such as
reading, playing games, and good old unstructured and imaginative play, will result
in your children having their brains wired in ways that may make them less, not
more, prepared to thrive in this crazy new world of technology. Let your kids play
with their toys, let them go outside, get their imaginations working, and it's okay for
them to get bored. They will learn how to play again, I promise. It's good for them
and builds their brains. Trust me.

More Resources on This Topic:

 The Negative Effects of Technology on Childhood Behavior |
Childhood Behavioral Concerns
Almost every child in America right now has grown up in a world doused
with technology. We've all heard the common concerns about how this
affects a child's
 The impact of technology on behavior - TheTot
Technology and the impact it has on behavior. Kids and technology.
 Kids and Technology | Effects of Technology on Youth | Child Mind
Institute
Manage screen time for kids. Child Mind Institute explores issues
involving children and technology, along with the effects of technology
on youth.
 How Technology is Changing the Way Children Think and Focus |
Psychology Today
Thinking encompasses many aspects of who our children are and what
they do. There is little doubt that all of the new technologies are shaping
the way we think in ways obvious and subtle, deliberate and
unintentional, and advantageous and detrimental
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not
meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: What are the positive effects of using gadgets?

Answer: Anyone learning how to use a bit of technology will learn specific skills. For
video games, it's hand-eye coordination along with responding quickly and making
snap decisions. You get reinforcement immediately telling you whether you did it
right or not. The benefits vary depending on the gadget you are using. But do these
good skills really outweigh the negative ones?

© 2018 Victoria Van Ness

Comments
Isaac on May 07, 2020:
I have 3-4 yr old cousins who are constantly on their phones/ tablets and from that,
they're very shy, and they don't know how to interact with adults.

Ann Marlowe on May 06, 2020:

I am concerned of too much use of technology. I work with young children and some
of them are very aggressive and it comes from playing some of the games they play.
I also have grandchildren that stay on their phones too much watching programs and
I see how depressed they are at times and I am totally concerned about what you
said about the suicidal part that is happening with the teens.

Hockeyfan225 on April 26, 2019:

AWesome

Yohaness on April 09, 2019:

i think this article is completely right

Victoria Van Ness (author) from Fountain, CO on August 13, 2018:

Absolutely. There just needs to be a balance, like ever area of our lives. Thank you.

Victoria Van Ness (author) from Fountain, CO on August 13, 2018:

Oh, that's wonderful.

Travel Chef from Manila on August 11, 2018:

Personally, I find technology very useful for kids as they can easily learn something
interested with only few clicks in their gadgets. However, technology can also
disconnect kids from the real world. Since they tend to be more focus on using their
gadgets.

Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on August 10, 2018:

Victoria I just had to tell you. Last night we had a break through. My son was racing
through the Cat in the Hat. He was to read for 20 and write about it for ten. He was
so hurrying to get it done to play and interactive game.

I tapped him on his head and told him hurrying through did not change how long of
time it is. It clicked and we laughed.

Victoria Van Ness (author) from Fountain, CO on August 10, 2018:

Thank you! Eric, I really think each parent has to apply the concept to their individual
child(ren). Just as parenting methods differ in each household, I think the same
would apply here.

Caroline James from California on August 09, 2018:

Great article!

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on August 09, 2018:

I think this is an excellent article about the dangers of too much technology when
children are too young. It seems parentd must walk a fine line these days when
deciding what is appropriate and what is just too much for your little one.

We want out children to learn all they can, but where to draw the line is obviously
tricky. I think you spelled it out quite well.
Eric Dierker from Spring Valley, CA. U.S.A. on August 09, 2018:

You did real well here. I got a lot out of it and actually found myself applying it to me.
No not as a parent but as a user. I am all for hard physical play and interaction. We
are task masters in school type studies and my obsession with all things natural. We
dole out spiritual stuff though not really religion as while attending we are not
dogmatic. Sports a pre-requisate before any sit down time.

Of course you need to read and write time. At least equal to electronic time. Add
math into the mix.

Creative time from just imagination in the back yard to Legos and helping cook takes
time. A chore here and there and bare minimum of suggested sleep.

I think you see my point. We are too busy for too much electronic time. What would I
cut out to make more time? 3rd grade and every child has an Ipad for class.

I am a little bothered by the negative you mention in child behavior after use. And I
wonder what is too young. We went until 61/2 before use.

Thank you for this very well done piece.

The positive and negative effects of technology on children

Posted by Scott Stueber on Oct 22, 2019 9:41:08 AM

 Share


 Children these days aren’t referred to as
“digital natives” without reason. In fact, a report from Common Sense Media revealed
that, in 2017, 42% of young children had their very own tablet—up from 7% in 2013
and less than 1% in 2011. At the same time, the average amount of time children
spend with these handheld devices each day is skyrocketing, from 5 minutes a day in
2011, to 15 minutes a day in 2013, to 48 minutes a day in 2017.

It’s no secret that technology has become an integral component of daily life. In
particular, it’s become rare to see children and teens without a digital device in hand
wherever we go: restaurants, waiting rooms, parks and more.

However, the rapid pace by which toddlers, children, and teens are adopting
technology into their daily lives has many questioning the effects it can have on their
development. Although the negative impacts of technology frequently hit the news
and are popular topics of conversation, technology is also being used more and more
in educational settings, like the classroom. This leaves many of us wondering: is
technology all bad?

Here are a few positive and negative effects technology can have on
children to consider:

Positive:

Enhances Learning

Over the past few years, technology has become integrated into the classroom to
enhance the learning experience for children. Technologies such as Smartboards,
document cameras, Apple TVs, and even 3D printers are now incorporated into
educational lessons to boost collaboration and engage students in the learning
process. With increased collaboration in the classroom, teachers and students have
increased creativity and project-based learning opportunities that make academic
instruction more meaningful.

In addition, at-home educational technologies have assisted toddler-aged children in

learning numbers, letters, colors, and other foundational skills before they enter
formal schooling. Mobile device apps like Avokiddo ABC Ride, Moose Math, and
Metamorphabet have been recommended by parents to introduce math, the
alphabet, and even the arts before kids enter school!

Fosters Problem-Solving Skills

Have you ever heard of the term “survival mode?” It’s a gameplay function in many
kids’ video games where the player is tasked with staying alive as long as possible to
outlast opponents. For example, in the popular video game Minecraft, players are
dropped into new and different environments and must immediately build shelter and
collect items like food, in order to survive and outlive their opponents. Not to
mention, an entire day in Minecraft lasts just 10 minutes, so players must make good
decisions quickly.

With these types of technologies, kids must work independently to achieve a specific
goal. In the process, they’re posed with different types of roadblocks and challenges,
which they must learn to navigate and overcome. In turn, they’ll be encouraged to
come up with their own problem-solving solutions when facing real-life issues such as
homework trouble, disagreements with friends, or personal hardship, as well as
technology-based obstacles.

Develops Future Technological Leaders

It’s common knowledge that our future lies in many of today’s emerging technologies.
In the years to come, technical skills will be more important in the workplace, as well
as the growing impact it’ll have on day-to-day life. One of the greatest benefits of
exposing kids to technology is the fact that they’ll be well-prepared to jump into a
pool of available, high-paying tech jobs.

With large tech companies like Amazon consistently adding hundreds of new

jobs around the country, introducing technology skills to children at an early age can
prepare them for a career with a positive outlook. Tech jobs are here today. Tech jobs
will be here tomorrow. Some of today’s tech will be tomorrow’s tech, and some of
tomorrow’s tech will be completely brand new and something our world has never
seen before. Who’s going to be best equipped to fill those positions? The ones who
start learning now.

Negative:

Diminishes Relationships and Social Skills

As children use mobile devices more and more, they’re more apt to be virtually
connected with family and friends, rather than spending time together physically;
they’re more likely to text, chat on social media, or connect through online gaming
than actually meeting them in person.

As Lisa Rai Mabry-Price, the associate director of school services from the American
Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), told The Philadelphia Inquirer, “Social
communication skills are also in jeopardy due to tech overuse. These skills are
developed and honed through daily interaction and include knowing how to take
turns during a conversation, using facial expressions, changing the way you speak
based on the listener—such as how you talk to a baby versus an adult—and making
appropriate eye contact. Such personal interactions are limited as children passively
view a screen.”

Stimulates Health Issues

The overuse of mobile devices can be harmful to children’s health, as the more they
use mobile devices, the less physical activities they do. In addition, when children
choose to play on their devices over physical activity, they often couple their activity
with mindless snacking and other unhealthy habits.

As children spend more time in front of those screens—most of the time on the couch
—the less time they spend outside playing, running, and burning off calories. Over
time, those habits can lead to significant weight gain and other associated health
problems.

Reduces Sleep Quality

A study from JAMA Pediatrics found that children and adolescents who use media
before bed were two times more likely to not get enough sleep at night. Even further,
having access to a media device in their sleeping environment, even if the device was
not being actively used near bedtime, was also associated with an inadequate amount
of sleep.

Children under the age of 13 typically require 11-14 hours of sleep, depending on

their age. Sleep is immensely important for children, as it promotes growth, helps
heart health, affects weight, increases attention span, and even boosts learning.
However, when children don’t get the proper amount of sleep each night, these ever-
important qualities can suffer.

Like many of the things children love, like pizza or candy, technology can be great—
but only in moderation. The problems associated with technology come with misuse
and lack of attention around how much technology is “too much.” Be sure to regulate
and limit your children's technology use, and they’ll be able to reap its positive
effects!
Author Bio: Marie Johnson is a contributor to Enlightened Digital, UX Designer and
technology writer from New York City. If she's not writing her latest blog post in her
kitchen, you'll likely find her strolling through Central Park, cappuccino in hand.

Topics: Family Safety