HOW TO PREVENT NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGY ON CHILDREN

Human beings are sociable creatures, people have developed many ways to communicate messages, thoughts and feelings with others. The tool used to interact with others is called social skills. It may be used through verbal and non-verbal (voice, personal space, eye contact, facial expressions, gestures, body language and physical appearance). 

Besides conversing in person to inform others of  their needs or to impart knowledge, technology enables individuals to communicate with one another no matter the physical distance. However, today’s children are more inclined to technology than playing and interacting with each other. Today in the digital age, no one can belittle or undermine the influence and power of new media in shaping, influencing, and changing the society.  

Children are introduced to newly invented technological tools. They miss out on making eye contact with strangers, conversing, smiling and laughing at appropriate times with friends and family. It is undeniable that technology have both positive and negative impacts on children. As much as technology has changed the way kids learn or entertain themselves, it has also affected their ability to learn and have real entertainment with their friends.

Internet technology and video games have become addictive to so many children. Many kids  have become video game addicts, which leaves them with no time to interact with other children and  has resulted in increased cases of loneliness among children.  That is why it is the role of the parents to guide them on how to use technology and also set limits on when to use specific technological tools, to also teach them about social skills for with a well developed social skill a person will attain  better relationships, better communication and increased over all happiness, With the  use of verbal and non-verbal communication, children will be able to clarify messages that do not articulate or deliver clearly and they learn that gestures, body language of a person, the rhythm and the tone of a persons voice, all have different meanings in different situations. 

  

Below are some negative effects of technology on children and what parents can do to reduce these effects:

• Poor social skills

Kids are spending most of their time playing video games, watching television and using social networks like Facebook, the more time they spend using these technologies, the more time they spend alone. If a child has poor social skills, they will find it hard to deal with people when they grow up and this can be harmful to their lives and careers in the long run.

HOW TO PREVENT THIS?

Instead of prohibiting technology use altogether, set daily limits for how long children can use technology each day. Parents should encourage their kids to participate in extra curricular activities in school in order to make friends and spend time with other children.

• Weakens the relationship between kids and their parents

Kids have found comfort and entertainment in technology while the parents are out for work or for business trips by playing video games,watching television, chatting/ texting with friends ,visiting weird websites online, etc. Their are some cases when children are more comfortable in talking to people online about their problems, than their parents. Today’s reality is that even when parents pretend to play with children or share some family moments, the emails or chatting is taking half of their attention.

HOW TO PREVENT THIS?

It is important to share some quality time with your family. Parents should spend more time with their kids after work; create a strong bond between you and your kids, so that they feel free to ask you anything. It is important to switch of your devices for at least an hour or two and spend some quality time together.

• Impact on a child’s mental and emotional well-being

With the high levels of social media use or technology use, in both kids and adults, it can lower self-esteem and create negative moods. With the advancement of technology children have difficulties in interacting with their peers. This makes it more difficult for them to pick up on social cues and develop meaningful relationships with others — something that can have serious negative consequences as they grow and develop. They also have a difficult time developing emotions the same way other kids would if they spend too much of their time with technology and not enough time being engaged while in the presence of others.

HOW TO PREVENT THIS?

Set a good example as a parent. If your kids see you on your phone or computer constantly, they will also want to use technology all the time. Parents should put limits on technology usage and be aware of the potential negative consequences of overuse. 

• Limited outdoor activities

Technology has a real impact on the way people have changed the healthy habits. As people are busy with their gadgets, they have no time for outdoor activities. Children now prefer computer games to outdoor games which add the problem of unhealthy eating.

HOW TO PREVENT THIS?

Making time to visit your local park, oval or playground is a good idea to encourage your child to play outside. As your child gets older, you could encourage her to try a structured outdoor activity like junior sport. Sometimes your child might be worried about trying something new.‘Risky’ play experiences are an important part of how your child learns and develops. They help your child understand her limits, think for herself, cope with challenges and gain self-confidence.

 

In short, Technology makes a persons life easier, but with each advantage comes a potential cost. When we understand those costs and find a way to  minimize them, we can keep the use of technology positive.☺️