Protecting Your Kids: Understanding the Dangers of Excessive Phone Use and How to Mitigate Them

Look at any family in a restaurant and there is a great chance that the kid is playing with a phone. Kids and phones are a bad combo. And research says that watching or using the phone for too long can damage brain growth, cause insomnia and cause several other problems.

Kids are born smart

Children nowadays are undeniably smart. A few days back I stumbled upon a viral video where a newborn baby crawled just out of its mother’s womb, it was a sight to behold! After all, the accumulated intelligence is passed on from one generation to the next. 

Also Read: 7 Parenting Tips to make your child smart

Stop ruining them with your phones

But isn’t it selfish on our part when we shut down their creative intelligence? Did we shut down their natural bonding tendencies and learning opportunities with the tricks of distraction?

Handing them the most expensive gadget is the worst idea ever.

Kids and phones: A common sight

On new year’s occasion, I was attending a party in Goa. We stayed in a resort that was filled with foreign tourists. The party was organized around the colossal swimming pool of the resort. The music was loud and the atmosphere charged. While some danced their way to the new year, some partied hard splashing the water. There was one Russian couple with two little children who were sitting at a corner table. 

The couple sat there with blank faces and I could not keep my eyes off their hostile situation. One of the children was probably one year old and the other might has just touched three. The toddlers were soon bored as there were no games for children at the party.

They sought their mother’s attention. And the mother opened her iPad, played a video, and got her child engaged. For the rest of the evening every time I looked at that table I saw the children glued to the gadget.

This has become a common practice among parents. They hand over the gadget happily to calm the child. This is the best trick to concentrate on work or sneak some time away from their chatter. But is the shortcut really worth it?

Also Read: How do Electronic Gadgets impact your mood?

Kids and Phones

Leading scientists from all over the world say that Children below two years should not be given the gadget. There are many things that might go wrong in their development. 

Electronic gadgets expose the little one to harmful radiation. This can cause severe damage including life-threatening diseases like cancer or chronic diseases.

Check out the top six reasons why giving your mobile phone is the worst idea ever:

1. It hampers their brain development

Handing the phone to your little one can block their cognitive thinking. It hampers their attention, and learning skills increase their tantrums. Using phones excessively causes impulsiveness and a lack of self-control.

2. The Excess Radiation kills their cells

WHO classifies cell phones as a “possible carcinogen” which means a cancer-causing substance. Cell phones emit high radiations that are very harmful to tender toddlers. Sticking the phone close to their ears can increase the risk of non-malignant tumors. 

3. Cell phone usage can cause mental illnesses

Several studies said that the use of phones among teens is a leading cause of childhood depression. It increases the risk of anxiety, attachment disorders, suicidal attempts, bipolar disorder, etc.

Also Read: How Electronic Gadgets Impact your Mood?

4. Sleep alteration

We already know how the bright light of the screens can affect our sleep patterns. The children are no exception to this. Children who use excessive technology find trouble falling asleep. This compromises everything from their health, to grades to behavior and attitude. 

5. Early obesity

This needs no further validation. Children who spend more on the phone miss the better part of life. They are reluctant to go out, make friends and play on the grounds. This results in inactivity and obesity. Not to mention obesity is the leading cause of many chronic and life-threatening diseases.

6. Childhood addiction

Technology is the next big addiction that creeps the youth. Many places have already started clinics for a digital detox and if the use of technology is not checked this is going to be a real thing!

Also Read: A practical action plan for a Digital detox

Conclusion

Cell phones are a potential tool that helps us connect and communicate. It makes life convenient but when they are wrongly used they are no less than a potential weapon capable of shattering your lives!

So, next time your kid asks for the phone, tell them a nice story. Take them on an outing. Engage them in some other interesting activity or just play with them.