Portable devices have become a very large part of most people's everyday life, varying from iPhone, tablets, and laptops. A majority of people incorporate the use of portable devices at least once throughout their day, making it hard for parents to keep children away from them. A common concern about these devices is how it is affecting the younger generation. Many parents debate over the effects of handheld devices and whether they are positive or negative on a child's development. Some parents allow their children to have access to devices at a very young age, and some wait until the child is older. Portable devices have become so popular that keeping children from using them has become harder, but can introducing devices to children at too early of an age have any effects? If not used properly, handheld devices can have a negative effect on the development of children.
Portable devices have pretty much taken over everyone’s life but it has not always been this way. Handheld devices hit an all-time high when Apple released the first iPhone in 2007, since then it seems like these devices are everywhere. Every phone brand seems to now have a touchscreen phone that has pretty much the same functions as a computer. Since the iPhone released it seems that more portable devices have come out. For example, tablets and laptops have improved dramatically over the last few years. With every new smartphone or tablet release, the phones seem to be able to do more and more, making
As our generations and technological world has vastly began to develop and expand rapidly, a repeated debate of whether technology use for young babies and children is beneficial or harmful to the physical and cognitive development of the child. As research has taken place to determine more answers around this topic, experts and parents from all different generations cast their opinion on the matter.
Why do parents allow their children to have technological devices at a young age? There are various reasons as to why parents allow devices at a young age, but are they valid reasons? Before technology became a popular item, children played outside, they played on their Nintendo, or DS, and now children stay indoors on a warm day and play on their phones or tablets, instead of getting in physical activity. Parents are more likely to give their children these devices out in public because they want their child to behave. Parents have become dependent on technology, which has led to children becoming dependent on having these devices with them wherever they go. Children from the ages of two to twelve have been negatively impacted using
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.
It’s universal for parents to hand their children electronic tablets while at home or in the car. This establishes habits of not socializing or envisaging.
Many studies and observations have been made on how technology can negatively affect a child’s physical health, mental health, emotional well-being, values, educational development and relationships. The results of these studies found technology exposure can be linked to childhood obesity, behavioral problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, coordination disorder, unintelligible speech, developmental delays, learning difficulties, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, poor physical activity and poor school performance.
Every day, the Generation Z/Boomlets, those born after 2001, are starting to interact more and more with technological devices. This can cause very serious consequences and it can affect their development, such as irregular sleeping pattern, lack empathy, social and language skills and health issues. The Common Sense organization did some research and discovered that 10 percent of one year olds have used a technology device. They also found out that 38 percent of children between two and four years old have used mobile devices like iPhone, tablets or Kindles and more than fifty percent between ages five to eight years old also use mobile devices. How can kids have this much access to technological devices at such a young age? I remember I didn’t have my first phone until the ninth grade and it was a flip phone; I received my first iPhone in my senior year of high school. Kids these days are growing up too fast and interacting more and more early with technology and besides affecting their development, this will come back to affect our future.
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.
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the 1860’s, people have rapidly improved people’s lives with technology. The first generations of computers started the base of computers and their system. These generations were influenced by inventers like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Steve Wozniok facilitated the computers, tablets, and smart phone we use today. With tablets and smart phone being so accessible it is no surprise that computers are not as popular as they used to. Many people would prefer to have an item that can fit in their back pocket or bag, instead of having to carry a big, space consuming item. They would rather have a hand held tablet and can fit almost any where somebody needs it to. Everywhere there is technology;
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.
There is a lot of concern about children using technology as TV, video games, and using cell phones to play or watch videos. Many people are against it, but other people are in favor of it. The biggest concern is about technology affecting the development process of children of 0 to 2 years old. Another concern is technology affecting older children in their behavior and physical and mental health. A lot of times obesity in children is blamed on technology as well. When referring to technology hardware, software and programs are included and it is true; technology can be a really big problem for children.
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.
Children from two years old to the age of ten years old can be effected in a negative way. Sometimes parents give their children a tablet or their cell phone to entertain them while they try and get something important done. Sometimes they are out in public and their child is being too loud so they pull out the phone and let them watch T.V. on it so they can become quiet. The American Academy of Pediatrics explains, “Screens are distractions, not tools to soothe children. Television is not a “babysitter,” so parents should enforce rules about media use” (Roman). From the start of a child 's life parents should be careful about letting kids have the ability to watch too much tv or spend too much time staring at any type of technology. Parents tend to use their technology to keep
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.
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.
The development of technology is growing quickly and becoming a part of everyday life. Technology has advanced so much that virtual reality is starting to look like reality. Virtual reality has truly brought life to video games. The reality could be skewed for children who have not experience the world yet and playing violent video games could alter how they view the real world. The article provides different angles to this topic.