The Positive and Negative Side of Tech for Kids
If you are in your 80s or 90s, you must agree your childhood was way different from that of the kids in the current times. Life was simple back then. Today’s kids are tech-savvy. They are being brought up in a tech environment. It won’t be wrong to say that they are growing with technology.
Back in the days, my parents got one of the Spectrum TV packages for home, and getting cable was the highlight of my childhood. But kids these days carry technology with them in the form of a smartphone that contains all sorts of entertainment.
This has got parents wondering if this technology is beneficial for kids or if they should put a limit to overexposure. Let’s dive into the pros and cons to figure that out:
The Pros of Tech
Quick access to information
Thanks to technology, information is now literally in the palms of our hands. If kids have any query, all they have to do is type it in Google and the answer is right in front of them.
No wonders kids these days are more knowledgeable. The Internet has reduced all geographical boundaries, hence getting familiar with a new culture is just one click away.
Greater independence
The availability of online libraries has given greater access to children to get an early start on education compared to previous generations. There is no need to step into a physical library to conduct research. One can access all kinds of resources online. Kids are more independent than ever when it comes to learning something or even making a decision.
When kids can’t figure out the answer to something, they simply search for it on Google and the answer is displayed in front of them. This process has come a long way in building independence and academic confidence.
Social interaction and community building
The internet, to some extent, has helped kids learn how to communicate and collaborate. Today’s youth share a similar interest in technology. Technology has helped kids in connecting outside the school, bringing students as well as parents together. Teachers have been using visual, video, and audio content to teach their students. This practice has open communication pathways between parents, kids, and teachers as well.
Promotes cognitive development
Meaningful education at a young age can provide kids with opportunities to gain the necessary skills, preparing them for school. Developmentary computer programs are available to increase readiness in children to learn how to read and even learn math.
Technology has helped kids in learning basic skills. No wonder so many competent kids are enrolling in schools. These skills will help children to engage in higher-order thinking as well as applied learning.
Better visual attention
Gaming and app learning has quipped children to pay more attention to details for complete understanding. Ever noticed how occupied your child is when they are playing a game? They notice everything and pay special attention to the subtle changes in graphics, music, or characters. This type of accuracy and attention is going to help them in other fields of life in the days to come.
The Cons of Tech
Too much of everything can be bad, right? The same goes for tech when it comes to children. These are some disadvantages of overexposure to tech:
Sometimes, if children get too occupied with tech and gadgets, they can isolate themselves from the world around them.
Excessive dependence on online communication has made kids bad at in-person social interactions. They have a hard time starting a conversation, which can be a problem in the future.
If children are left unsupervised with technology, they might be exposed to the type of content that could be harmful such as pornography, online harassment, cyberbullying, body shaming, and other online dangers that could affect their personality.
Too much screen time can mess with their sleep schedule. All-nighters (playing games, watching movies, chatting with friends, or even studying online) can severely affect physical health.
Conclusion
There are two sides of a coin, right? The same applies to technology. It’s impossible to keep your child away from technology altogether but as parents, you can always set boundaries so that your child receives a healthy exposure to technology.
Likewise, there’s no harm in parents considering Spectrum offers for home entertainment but by setting rules (and parental controls). This way, kids can make the most of technology. For instance, set screen-time for everyone, no phones on the dinner table, and no all-nighters on the weekdays, etc. Let your children know why rules exist so that they abide by them and yet avail the advantages of technology.
