Gone are the days when a piece of chalk, a stick and a ball, or a skipping rope could keep 12 children happy for hours on end. That was how my cousins and I spent our school holidays.
Of course, these days, it is so different with young children and teenagers obsessed with the latest mobile phones or iPhones, tablets and other electronic devices.
It is not wrong to say that some of them have their faces “buried” in these devices, only taking a break when they shower, in the classrooms or active during school.
Some look at their screens while eating!
That does not mean I am against these devices. They have opened up a whole new world to everyone – but there are pros and cons.
The positives are obvious. Among them – access to information, digital literacy, and creativity.
We can get the latest news with a click or a swipe. These devices help students find facts and teachers can use them for online quizzes.
But what worries me is how much time these young people spend on their devices, especially as it seems everyone has one.
I have attended birthday parties for teenagers. After they cut the cake, everyone sits in one corner, playing with their devices.
Or they are interacting by playing online games with each other. They have forgotten how to socialise.
It hinders the development of important social skills, such as face-to-face communication. They lack empathy. Some don’t know how to say “pardon me”, “excuse me”, “please”, or “thank you”, or how to address other people, especially those older.
In the old days, parents were overly strict. Children were to be seen, not heard. Parents who grew up in that era want to be different, but some have gone in the opposite direction.
They often encourage their children to express themselves freely. While it is good to give children a voice, they need to express their views respectfully. Too many are familiar with online jargon – which is informal and curt.
What should parents do? They must be aware of their children’s online habits and the applications or games they use and set time limits on how long they can be online. There is also the fear of inappropriate content online and cyberbullying.
I’m not suggesting that parents invade their children’s privacy, but if they know the sort of games or applications their children are using, they can judge for themselves if they are age-appropriate.
Parents could also encourage their children to spend time on offline activities. Families can build a bond by playing board games or sports and having outings together.
Technology offers many advantages but can’t replace social skills children learn through direct interaction with family and peers.
We must prioritise personal interaction over digital engagement to give our children a balanced view of life.
The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer’s and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.
