I was surprised the other day when my cousin’s two and a half-year-old child played his favourite song on YouTube. Since playing in the park was my only form of enjoyment as a child, I would say that I was more shocked than surprised. I still cherish those moments. But now I have seen children going to the park and playing games on the mobile phone.
It’s not a secret any more that children have become addicted to the technology. Gadgets like tablets, smartphones make kids occupied, especially for parents who are working or have important things to do at home than getting involved with the kids.
OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Most parents are worried because their kids are suffering from OCD – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder as excessive use of anything and unable to lead a life without it, is a disorder be it gadgets. I also know kids who don’t eat food, if you don’t play their favorite cartoon, parents have to bribe them like this, so that they go to the potty or sit quietly in a function or in the car. Little kids are wearing specs as their eyes are damaged because they are constantly glued to the screen of their tab or a smartphone.
Have you also noticed the change in their language, they talk like their favorite cartoon character or have become violent of late. If yes, then high time you need to take steps to mend this problem otherwise this will disconnect your kid from the outside world.
It is a very big and a serious issue and has become common these days. But before we talk about this problem, we should talk about how it all started?
Did they just born and asked you to give your smartphone to them? Or they picked the smartphone on their own and started watching videos and playing games.
No…..
Let me give you some clues about its beginning
Remember that day, when your few months old baby was crying, and you were busy in your own work like talking to your friend, watching TV, chatting with your neighbour or wanted to read a book etc. What did you do that day, you just picked up your phone and played cartoons or baby rhymes or lulla bee and kept it in front of your child (a few months old baby who didn’t even know what a mobile means). Your baby stopped crying and you began with your work or whatever you were doing.
As a result of you repeating the same thing every time your child cried after that, they were dependent on the gadget. A child should not just become sluggish and sit around all day; they need to move about and acclimate themselves to their surroundings. I remember how much we use to play as a kid; sun, rain, and other irrelevant elements were not a concern for us. I understand the situation is not very safe today but this doesn’t mean we should trap our kids in one room and limit their thought process and then later expect them to become active and agile.
I remember a mother was feeding a banana to a small infant and to feed the infant she played the video on her mobile phone, the infant eyes were glued to the screen. Did our parents do the same? Our parents also brought us up without technology.
Before blaming your child, introspect yourself
Little kids are wearing specs today and the major factor is a smart phone. Parents often complain that their child is not focused on studies, sports, and get together at home as they use phone too much that they have lost interest in any social or outdoor activities. You blame smart phone’s all the time but have you introspect yourself, because you who gave that smart phone to the kid for the first time because of your own comfort and now your child is addicted to it.
And if you try to cut back on their smartphones or other gadgets they overreact by throwing tantrums, getting angry, yelling in the house, not eating food, and misbehaving. Can you relate to what I am saying?
Is it easy to get rid of the problem?
Getting rid of this problem is not easy because at some point of time giving your child the mobile phone was your comfort but now it’s their comfort and they are completely dependent on it. As parents we should accept that it all started from our end and only we can find the solution rather scolding our kids or cursing the gadgets all the time. I really wish we would have given full attention to them rather giving them our phone (reason can be any) because this is the time they need parents for a better growth and development and not technology.
Just think about it?
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