Technology and Its Effects on Children

Technology has only been around for 20 years and has already inflicted pain on many. Especially those that are students and did not become used to the new style of teaching compared to the new style of teaching. The old style of teaching is the classical version where students are able to learn what they love to do instead of taking all the classes children hate and end up failing. Classical style of teaching benefits the students because they actually want to learn. The integration of technology has negatively impacted children of this generation because it causes health problems, technology leads to terrible work ethics and performance in

Today nearly 98% of American households have televisions. This makes television the single most important source of media in the lives of children and adolescents. Research shows that about 21- 23 hours per week on average, that children between the ages of five and twelve are exposed. This brings much controversy as to how television delivers the news, media, and violence to young children and adolescents. Many argue that the viewing of television during these crucial years of development can be very harmful involving the link of violence with aggressive behavior, hindering emotional and social development, the lack of exercise, health and activities, the development of temperament in young children, and sleep deprivation.

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.

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.

It is said technology these days is pervasive, it floods our lives and for most of us we couldn’t imagine living without it. It is being used more as an entertainment tool and an educational resource for our children. But have we stopped for a minute to think about whether this technology exposure is good or bad? Although some New Zealand organisations provide guidance, it may now be time to create and communicate a country wide view that takes into account both positive, and negative effects that technology can have.

As I walked the toy isle of Wal-Mart, searching for the perfect gifts for my two nieces’, I realized that a majority of the toy selection was based mainly on modern era technology. By that I mean that there were toy cell phones, toy computers, toy tablets and etcetera. I rolled my eyes thinking to myself, is this really necessary? When I was a child and still received toys for Christmas it was all about the Barbie or dolls, kitchen sets, and dress up. Now it’s all about technology, for girls and for boys. Sadly most children aren’t even satisfied with these toy gadgets. They are already adamant about having the real thing. We live in an increasingly digital world, so I can’t say that I’m all that surprised that technology has become a part of twenty first century children’s upbringing. Children see technology everywhere; in contrast less modern technology stimulated cognitive growth, whereas more modern technology children are exposed to are designed to entertain more than learn. They see it at home being used by family members, at school, as it is now integrated into pretty much every content area, and it is always being advertised on television.

Neilson Company reported that by the time a child finishes elementary school they will have already witnessed 8,000 murders. In the USA an average of 20-25 violent acts are shown in children’s television programs each hour. A significant association was found between the amount of time spent watching television during adolescence, with its exposure to violence, and the likelihood of subsequent antisocial behavior, such as threatening aggression, assault or physical fights resulting in injury, and robbery. Young children are more easily impressionable. have a harder time distinguishing between fantasy and reality. cannot easily discern motives for violence learn by observing and imitating.

Other studies have shown that using technology devices, both during and after school, not only decreased student’s productivity and made it harder for them to learn; but it also negatively affected their social life and health. Vandewater and colleagues (2007) found that technology can adversely affect children’s development because students have a harder time socially, academically, and physically (Vandewater, Rideout, Wartella, Huang, Lee, & Shim, 2007). Their study showed that young children are more inclined to stay indoors and watch television than to go play outside, allowing the possibility of long term negative effects. For example, children can also develop sleeping disorders if the parents use the television to put them to bed or

Children are spending too much time on technology, causing impatience and excessive boredom in their everyday lives. Heidi, who is a mom of 2 kids, has noticed an increase of impatience with her kids ever since she started allowing them to have technology access (Croatt). Also, the more exposed kids are to technology, the more they’re exposed to bullying on the Internet. Young kids shouldn't have to worry about bullying at such a young age (“How Young is too Young for an iPhone?”)

In today 's world, it is not uncommon to see children using technology. In fact, just about everywhere you venture you are likely notice a child with an iPhone, or a tablet. Within the last five years’ elementary schools have been depending more on technology such as computers, and tablets for learning, compared to 10 years ago when everything was teacher taught and the closest form of technology found in the classroom happened to be a projector. The fact that there was little use of technology in elementary schools when today 's adults were growing up could sure-enough be the reason that many adults are skeptical when it comes to the use of electronics in elementary school. Many adults will say that children stay on the computers too much, and that it isn’t healthy for them. Another reason adults could be hesitant to accept that technology is an important key to learning is the fact that some children have learning disabilities and could struggle when learning from a computer. Adults will also point out that not every child has access to a computer at home to complete at home assignments. However the purpose of technology in elementary school is there to enhance and broaden the educational process not to hinder it.

Technology has many adverse effects on young children that could cause permanent damage in their lives. How many young children in your family do you see exposed to technology? In this day and age everyone including toddlers are frequently exposed to some sort of technology such as a television, computer, laptop, smartphone, or a tablet for hours. Technology is rapidly becoming an addiction for young children because parents are continuously using this as a form of appeasement. I fear that in a decade a toddler will be teaching me how to use an intricate device. What parents do not know is that this frequent exposure to technology is the core to their child lacking communication skills, acquiring numerous diseases, and preventing them from the four critical factors necessary to achieve healthy child development.

Technology has been around forever, so it seems. People all around the world can be found with some form of smart device in their hand. Since the development of smart phones and video games a controversy has arisen. Technology has led to many wonderful advancement of the modern age and is benefiting people everywhere, but is it really that great? Technology has a negative effect on children and adolescents.

As first mention this will forever be an ongoing debate. All children are not the same and their cognitive development differs from those their age. Technology has also been used to help aid in the development of children. Though initially some educators expressed concern that computers might reduce socialization, researchers suggest that instead computers may increase the amount of communication and positive interaction between children (Clements, 1994; Haugland & Wright, 1997). For example, Muller and Perlmutter (1985) found that children participated in interactions with others during 63% of computer play versus 7% of puzzle play. With different researches becoming available parents don't know how to approach the situations when it comes to the well-being of their children.

Children in America seem to be on their cell phones, computers, or anything that has social media or internet access more and more each year. It has become a problem, it will continue being a problem in the world today, if we do not cut some of the technology out of our lives. Too much technology can cause many problems, this is why we should limit our time to social media and internet access. Technology has affected everyone, adults, teenagers, and children. Mostly in children because their still brains are still growing and developing. The ages of a child are not old enough to be a teenager, but not young enough to be a grade school child. Although some children enjoy being on computers or smart phones, many children can be affected by technology in many ways, it can affect your brain, social development and has an impact on your physical activity.

Alarm clock goes off - checks phone, sitting on the bus - plays games, eating dinner with the family - texting friends, trying to go to bed - scrolls through social media… this has become the everlasting cycle that drives the typical teenage kid into social destruction and retrains them from witnessing first-hand experiences of the real world. As the new generation becomes teenagers, we can see the social development and can research how our technological age has affected them. The easy and typical solution can be shown to cause everlasting consequences and needs to be redirected towards a moderate perspective for educational purposes. We will draw ideas from American Psychological Association, International Journal of Technology, behavioral scientists, and parents to compare the facts and logic behind the effect of technology on children and the solution to the problem.