Negative Effects Of Technology On Young Children

Modern Technology is good for the developing brain of a child.When using any modern technology like Ipad, Iphone, Ipod, laptop computer anything, when using these amazing their brains are constantly being used. Each icon they click each word they read each picture or color they see is all recorded in their brains. When a child is on a application, that child zooms in on the activity which causes a chain reaction to the brain keeping the brain active, and exercising. “The impact of heavy media and technology use on kids are social, emotional and cognitive development is only beginning to be studied, and the emergent results are serious.” This quote proves of my statement because it says that a child’s emotional and cognitive development are being affected by technology. There are a lot of brain exercises on the internet. Just for a kid going on the computer and seeing screen light up and reading the words to guide them to a activity is exercising because you’re using your brain to use the computer, and reading the word google or yahoo or even the startup menu.”Children now rely on technology for the majority of their play, grossly limiting challenges to their creativity and imaginations,

According to a 2010 Kaiser Foundation study, which involved elementary children, concluded that on average 75 percent of parents allowed their children to have bedroom TV’s, North American households keep their TV’s on for 50 percent of the day, and use 7.5 hours of technology entertainment per day (Rowan). Technology is becoming a problem throughout the United States, especially in elementary aged kids. Parents are introducing technology as early as infants so that they understand certain information at an early age. When parents introduce technology at such an early age they are giving their children the advantage to be addicted to the wonders of it. Young children are at a high risk of brain damage with the advancement of technology. The more adults introduce technology to younger children the higher the chances of problems it causes. Technology has a negative effect on younger children and should have limitations on the age in which it is being introduced.

“Children in the past used to play outside all day, riding bikes, playing sports and building forts” according to The Huffington Post on an article “The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child”. In this article the author Cris Rowan a pediatric occupational therapist, biologist and speaker talks about technology and the effects it is having on children and families. Rowan says technology has advanced so rapidly, that families have scarcely noticed the significant impact and changes to their family structure and lifestyles. This is defiantly true, as technology keeps advancing and new items are placed at our disposal we are up to date on the latest without realizing the effects this has in our daily lives. In the article “The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child” makes a wakeup call to parents to understand how quickly technology is affecting families and children by destroying family foundations, causing disintegration and making us more reliable on technology.

Moreover, childhood obesity and diabetes are on the rise (Rowan). ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression are also associated with the overuse of technology. This could be in-part because technology puts limitations on the amount of time children spend outside. It is proven that spending time in nature is calming, attention restorative, and promotes learning (Rowan). Furthermore, technology creates a feeling of sensory overload for children, keeping them in a constant state of stress (Rowan).

My research project was inspired by my love of children and the many times I have observed children using technology. From this experience I noticed many young children are extremely familiar with technology and the use of technology can have both positive and negative effects on them. As I have researched into this topic, I have learnt there are many beneficial and harmful implications of technological use for children. A finding I have come across on multiple occasions is children should not be using or be in contact with any technology whilst they are under the age of 2. A positive implication includes using technology for educational reasons as opposed to entertainment purposes. Using technology for entertainment or for long periods of time can negatively affect the child psychologically. A key point from my research has lead me to understand technology can have a huge impact on a child’s mental, physical and emotional health. (154 words)

Today children are exposed to a different world than the one their parents grew up in. Consumerism plays a significant influence in children’s lives, including technology. This has led to over usage of technology as a reason for increased health issues in children, and basic building blocks of healthy development being ignored. Children are no longer interested in creative play, which is vital to problem-solving, learning, imagining and thinking. Instead, children can often be found sitting in front of a television, for up to seven hours a day, with their back hunched over and in an almost zombie like state of mind.

In the article The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child, pediatric occupational therapist Cris Rowan asserts that the rise in the usage of technology is having a negative effect on both mental and physical development. Rowan points out that “Young children require 2-3 hours per day of active rough and tumble play to achieve adequate sensory stimulation...” With today’s technology, and the effect it has on placating children, it takes away from the 2-3 hours necessary for growth. Without said active play, children do not receive the physical contact they need which is imperative for their maturation. Rowan also raises the concern of video games overstimulating children causing them to be constantly overstressed resulting in shaking and

Technology has brought us nothing more than negativity toward people. The first effect is health. technology affects individuals' exercises; so children become lazier and are most likely not motivated to work out. Along these lines, numerous health issues like obesity are brought about by the effects of technology. The second impact is communication. Ironically children don't have the chance to socialize with each other in person. They’re wasting their time using electronics instead of exploring the world and developing human nature. In addition, individuals lean toward using communication devices than collaborating in person.

There are lots of studies in the impact of technology on children’s developing minds. Studies found that diagnoses of ADHD, autism, coordination disorder, developmental delays, unintelligible speech, learning difficulties, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders are associated with technology overuse, and are increasing at an alarming rate (Rowen). Technology is causing a harmful effect on some children these days and it could potentially be harming them in the long run. children who use too much technology may not have enough opportunities to use their imagination or to read and think deeply about the material (Deloatch). I am a single parent of a 3-year-old girl and I face the problem of technology overuse from my daughter on a daily basis. My daughter has had a mobile device since she was able to walk. She is completely and utterly obsessed with watching her cartoon shows. Every day after she gets home or wakes up in the morning, the first thing she asks for is her shows. She would always ask for our cell phones before she got to watch things on the big TV in the living room, and when we would tell her no she would throw a big tantrum about it. She has a very short attention span as well; it is hard for her to focus on one thing at a time. The technology keeps her up until almost 2 or 3 in the morning sometimes. If we try to turn it off, she still roams around the house and throw fits until she gets someone to turn it back on or falls asleep.

With a flip of a switch or press of a button, Parents can have their child entertained for hours on end. Televisions and Tablets are the twenty-first century babysitters. The average child spends an astounding 7.5 hours per day on some form of technology (Rowan 2), when the recommend allotted amount of time should be no more than two hours (Kaneshiro 1). Technology is rapidly evolving, making limitless possibilities available for entertainment. This virtual “babysitter” enables the parents to devote all their time and effort into their work or engross in technology with limited amounts of distraction from the children. Although, the parents are able to have free time, excessive amounts of screen time is proven to be detrimental to their child’s health and overall well-being. The technology that is drastically making life easier is a big blessing, but at the same time is a big curse.

Technology can be positive towards a child’s development. If the child learns how to not take advantage of the technology given, then having them use it won't be a problem. However, what if the child does take advantage of the technology? DeLoatch explains, “Using technology can change a child’s brain.” Children who dependably using search engines may turn out to be great at discovering data, but not great at recollecting it. Moreover, children who utilize an excessive amount of technology might not have enough chances to utilize their creative ability or to peruse and contemplate the material. “Using technology,” explains DeLoatch, “can affect a child’s ability to empathize.” Abuse of technology can likewise influence a child’s own particular

Technology is not the reason for childhood being ruined. Modern technology is said to be ruining children’s lives by many professionals. Many professionals have done studies to figure out the truth, only to find out that it is not the technology. Although modern technology may be harmful to children, modern technology is also helping children develop faster, because it enhances social interaction skills, cognitive development and improves concentration.

Technology has become a part of our daily lives, our entertainment and our main source of information. Every day we use some sort of device, even kids as young as one or two. But giving young children electronic devices, such as phones and tablets, can negatively affect their development as they grow.

The negative effects of the overuse of technology on children can seem overwhelming, considering how widespread it is used today and its future role in American society. What can be done to try to compress these possible effects on children? The answer may not be found too far from the surface, but it is a simple and effective solution; technology should be used in moderation with developing children. Parents and guardians play a huge part in this, like explained from before with the factor of parenting styles. They are the caretakers of the children, and they spend the most time with them allowing them to monitor their children’s activities. Parents and guardians can regulate how much time their children spend using technology at home. Parents do not have to be overly strict about these limits, but to just keep in mind how often their children use technology. William Bowden explains this as how parents should monitor the use of technology for their children when they are young, and when they are older, the children will be more responsible and can use it by themselves. The accessibility of electronics ties into this. Parents should also be aware of the appropriate age that their children

Technology is becoming more of a dependent in people’s lives. Everywhere someone goes, there will likely be more than fifty percent of people there on a digital device. People are usually always seen with digital devices such as; smart phones, tablets, and laptops. This is slowly making its way to younger generations, including infants and toddlers. Now, with growing times, children are getting into this habit of always using a digital device as well. Digital devices are being used for entertainment, tools, and communication. Children are given a digital device for either entertainment, learning, or just to keep them quiet. It is really up to the parent for what the device is being used for. Children who use digital devices at a young age with parental or teacher supervision may contribute to an increase their own ability to learn.