KOCHI: She smiles and tilts her head as the little Korean girl in the video hums a song. Soon enough, the two-and-and-half year old Niya who is still learning to speak properly catches the words and sings animatedly the foreign song. While in the past, stuffed toys, Barbies and tricycles lured the toddlers, the smartphones, Android tablet and iPads have taken their place now. The kids learn the basics of speaking, listening and reading from the new app in their parents’ smartphones.
What more, parents who are irked by their kids who wreak a havoc on their gadgets have now started presenting them specially-developed tablets and other gadgets.
Techno-tots
Recently Intel and Metis Learning, a California-based company, launched a tablet ‘Eddy’ in India for kids aged between 2-10 years. The gadget is pre-loaded with over 160 learning apps and 300 key skills through which children can learn alphabets, games, songs and much more.
The kids these days are quick in downloading songs, videos and games than learning how to walk and talk. Games like ‘Angry Birds, ‘Talking Town’ and ‘Ninja’ capture the interest of the whiz kids these days than physical games.
Selfie Kids
Two-and-a-half year old Vismaya knows what a ‘selfie’ is. Her mother Meena says, “Vismaya refuses to sleep or eat if she is not permitted to play her favourite video game in my smartphone.” One-year-old Gauri is also no different who recently took a ‘selfie’ accidentally that went viral in the family circuit of her parents social network. The toddler is adept at posing for photos and is already a winner of a photo contest conducted by a leading regional newspaper.
The smart gadgets have taken their role played by television earlier, that of the virtual babysitter. Toddlers and pre-schoolers love to play with devices that have buttons and switches. They trod the lines of their parents who are always seen glued to their gadgets. The portability of gadgets makes it easier for kids to play video games in them. Eight year old Anamika owns a tablet of her own. Her mother Smitha Sreejth says, “Most of her friends have personal tab from small classes. We resisted for some time, but have bought one for our daughter since it helps in a big way for doing her project and nurturing her interest in learning English songs.”
Smitha says in this techno-savvy world, one cannot compel the kids from abstaining from using the gadgets, but the parent should monitor what the child does. “The pictures and other graphic symbols in the gizmo make the learning process more interesting and easy. Also the kids are more smart and can even teach us the nuances of using the gadget. It makes them more self-reliant in learning. But, parental guidance is a must while using them,” she says.
Flaws
Psychiatrist Dr Marykutty John has a different opinion about the growing trend. She says using electronic gadgets overtly tends to have a negative effect in the growth of a child. “Parents think that depending gadgets for learning helps for brain development. But the traditional way of learning is proven to be more effective.” Taking cue from the cases she has dealt with, the doctor says, “The electronic learning tools and entertainment devices are easy to use, which make the kids less inquisitive. It eventually reduces their creative bend of mind.”
According to the experts these kids tend to communicate less which is a serious issue. Psychologist V J Antony says, “The first six years are the formative period of a child’s growth during which he/she should learn to communicate more. The kids who are more glued to their gadgets tend to be more reticent, that creates serious issues later.” Dr Marykutty also says, “The primary lessons of interaction are through eye contact. The children should learn the basics of life from people around than through mechanical devices.” She cites several disadvantages: “The kids may devour more food while being immersed in the games and videos, but lesser physical activity which makes them obese. Also, the inappropriate content and the aggressiveness of the games may create a lasting scar in the kid’s mind.” The doctor also warns that radiation from the electronic devices creates serious health issues. She says, “Studies have proven that a child who uses gadgets for more than 3 hours a day tend to have behavioural problems.”
Hug and touch
Lesser the use of technology, better it is for the overall growth of the child, say experts in unique voice. “The parents should be more expressive in their affection for their kids. They should hug and touch the kid more which makes him more warm. Keep the gadgets away,” says Antony. Dr Marykutty also says, “Let the kids socialise more with their siblings and other kids and play in the open air and learn a lesson or two from nature than from the dry machine.”