Everything in excess is not good, so as the cliche goes. Too much incorporating of technology to the lives of the children have a negative side to it which leads to serious and life long effects. To prevent the bad consequences of high technology to children, both parents and educators must determine the unfavorable effects of ever-evolving technology to children.
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Serious Effect 1: With an easy access to gadgets, more and more toddlers use mobile media, while 95% of teenagers spend long hours online. Children spend too much time online that it changes the way they do things and alters how their brains function. A child that plays video games may develop his ability to pay attention to a lot of things all at the same time--multitasking to make it sound more appealing--but he may also be at risk for decreased memory and short attention span. Students who frequently use the internet in searching answers for their homework may be very good in finding information but poor in remembering it. Consequently, children lose their sense of imagination and interest in discovering something new. Thinking of upgrading your tablet so your kiddo can have the latest model? Do think twice.
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Serious Effect 2: Have you noticed that the more gadgets there are in the house, the lesser your children interact with you? Lack of interaction results to lack of emotions as there are less time spent talking and spending time with the family. The time spent with your children becomes less, hence, the hugging, cuddling, playing, talking, running outside, and other activities that facilitate emotions become scarce as well. Further, with the lack of physical contact and social interaction, children lose their ability to empathize and fails to recognize the importance of getting in touch with people. If your children are not anymore kissing you goodnight before they go to bed, or greet you when you arrive home from work, don't be surprised.
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Serious Effect 3: Kids who spend too much time playing with their laptops or tablets have no interest in playing outside anymore. They are too consumed and overwhelmed with high-tech games that they do not find hide-and-seek and jumping rope and outdoor games appealing and exciting. They tend to spend too much time with their gadgets that they do not move in their seats anymore. And what happens if the body moves too little? You guessed it right: weight gain. Apart from the sedentary lifestyle, kids also eat while they play online games or surf the internet. Because it is very likely that they prefer chips or fast-food while doing their thing, they become even more prone to obesity and poor lifestyle.
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High technology does not play villain at all times. It cannot be denied that the invention of gadgets and smartphones makes the daily life better, and parents benefit from its multitude of use as well. But what we are establishing here is a sense of balance. An hour or two a day of playing gadgets is not that all bad. After he has claimed his "gadget time," encourage him to go out and play outside, pick some flowers in the garden, dance in the living room, bake your favorite cookie, or do some arts and crafts. There are so many things to enjoy and discover, and as a parent, you can lead him in exploring the wonderful things around him without any gadgets required.
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