Research findings have shown that giving gadgets to children can cause
various problems including social isolation and withdrawal, impatience,
introvert, lack of emotional control and poor interpersonal communication
skills. On the other hand, there are also research findings that underline the
benefits of gadget use by children such as enhanced speaking listening and
creative skills, better eye-hand coordination, increased decision making speed,
promotes independent learning and much more. So the question then is how can
ensure our children use gadgets appropriately without getting addicted, ie.
having an obsessive/uncontrollable urge to use a gadget
Here are some tips that you may find useful
#1 Be A
Role Model
If you as a parent use gadgets all the time in front of children, it is difficult for them to understand why they should not use gadgets all the time as well. As the Malay saying goes, it would be like a crab teaching its young to walk straight. So, the first step is for the parent/caregiver to reduce the use of gadgets in front of your children. Show by example that you yourself have gadget-free times and the child will feel that they are treated fairly and be more receptive to do the same.
#2
Determine Rules for Gadget Use
If children are allowed to play with gadgets all the time without
rules, various problems may arise such as the battery running out, gadgets being
left lying around, disruption to sleeping and meal routines, etc. So there
needs to be rules for using gadgets. For example:
• Designate a place to play gadgets. Like in the living room only.
Do not allow your child to take the gadget out of the designated place.
• Do not use gadgets when the whole family is gathered together,
especially at the dining table. It's important for the whole family to
communicate daily, so no gadgets at all
during the set times, such as dinner time!
• Recharge after use. Teach your child to put every gadget back in
its original place, and plug the charger back in. I am sure many of you would
have had the annoying experience of needing to use a device only to find that
it had a dead battery and the last user did not bother to charger it
We should introduce these rules to make it convenient for everyone while teaching children responsibility
#3 Set
Times and Duration for Gadget Use
Determine a specific time when children can play with gadgets. Times such as mealtimes and schoolwork are strictly prohibited. The time before bedtime is also discouraged because there are games in the gadget that can make children more excited and make it difficult for them to fall asleep.
Children, if left to play with gadgets, will lose track of time. If
left undisturbed, they could go on until midnight or even later so we need to
determine a duration for them to play, and teach them from an early age to obey
the rules.
For example, use a stopwatch or an alarm clock to set the time for using a gadget. Set an hour, or two hours; and as soon as the alarm rings, you have to take the gadget back. It may be difficult at first but it will get progressively easier. This method is also called conditioning and if executed long enough, will result in a habit formation, ie. the child will habitually stop playing once the alarm rings hand over the gadget to you!
#4
Determine What Kinds of Applications Can Be Used
Identify what apps can cause your child to be distracted or cause
them to be in a bad mood. Then remove or lock the application so they don't use
it again.
Internet browsers such as Chrome, Firefox and others need to be set
to install Child Lock. In this world of the internet at your fingertips,
various content that is not suitable for children can be found with one click.
So Google itself has introduced Child Lock to filter photos or inappropriate
websites.
Also, don't let your child download apps themselves from the Play
Store or iTunes. If this happens, remove the application immediately and
install a lock to prevent them from installing any application. If they want to
play an app from the market, they can ask for your permission. If you feel that
the application is okay, you can download
and install the application for them
#5 Make
Gadget-Use a Reward
You as a parent can use this method to get your child to do other
outdoor or learning activity. As a reward, they will be given time to play with
gadgets. For example: for
•
Washing dad's car: 1 hour gadget time.
•
Feeding the dog: 15 minutes gadget time
•
Completing 1 study worksheet: 30 min
gadget time
In addition to teaching your child to do homework and spend more
time outdoors this will also make your easier with a helping hand.
#6 Bar
Gadget-Use as a form of Punishment
You as a parent generously provide gadgets for your children to
play with. Since use time is earned as a reward it should also be curtailed as
form of punishment.
For example, if they do poorly in school for a certain subject, they can't play gadgets on weekdays until their grades pick up. Another example is if they are disobedient, or say something rude, you can impose a period of no-gadget to discourage their bad behaviour.
#7
Exercise Your Authority as a Parent and Follow through
There are probably parents out there who give their kids gadgets
when asked to keep their kids from crying. This treatment will give children
the notion that they can get the gadget just by acting up and rolling on the
floor. This should not be the case
When the time comes for the child to stop using a gadget, just ask
them to hand it over and if they hesitate just take it from them. Let them roll
over, cry, wail but don’t budge. Don't give them back the gadget until it is their
next designated gadget time
Children need to know that they can only use gadgets under the determined rules and that too is a privilege that can be withdrawn at any time.
In closing, gadget use in children has its pros and cons but
whatever it is, the use of gadgets by children should be limited so as not to
interfere with the child's physical, social and mental development
Hope the 7 tips provided above will be helpful in limiting your child’s gadget use and preventing them from gadget addiction.
