As technology has become more and more prominent in our society, it is not uncommon to see kids that are attached to their parent’s tablets or smartphones. For this reason, it is important that parents take some sort of control and have some sort of influence over when your children are introduced to technology, what they are allowed to access, and how often.
Studies have shown that many of the educational programs that are offered through different applications can help stimulate your child’s brain and teach them different important skills. However, it is possible to hinder your child’s development by introducing them to technology too early. In the first two years of life, it is extremely important that children learn from real world experiences that challenge their senses. Children needed to be encouraged to explore the world and to interact with other people, and time in front of computer, tablet and smartphone screens takes away from these important opportunities. For this reason, most experts recommend that children should not start engaging with these programs until at least age 3.
Once your child is old enough to benefit from technology, it is important that a parent remains conscious both of what type of programs they are engaging with and for what amount of time. The best solution is for parents to share the experience with their child, doing activities or watching programs together. Not only does this allow the parent to control the content, it can help increase the child’s comprehension and provide solid bonding times for parents and children. When the experience is not being shared, it is recommended that any technological device be used in a common room. This way, parents or older siblings can at least be aware of what is on the screen. Always look for content rating and suggested ages on different programs.
Even with good programs and activities, it is important to limit the amount of time that your children spend with different technological devices. For children under the age of 6, it is recommended that time on devices is limited to less than 30 minutes. For 6 and 7 year olds, the time can be increased to 1 hour. Time can increase as children get older, but it should never be more than 2 hours. Always encourage your children to take breaks. Not only will it keep your children engaged in the outside world, but regular breaks can decrease the amount of strain that continuous screen time can cause on the eyes.
By monitoring your children’s technological habits you can make sure that they receive all the benefits offered by tablets, smartphones and computers without any of the potential drawbacks.
