How the latest digital devices are affecting children and what to do about it
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Tablet PCs, which have become increasingly popular since around 2010, are convenient tools that allow users to easily access a wealth of information. However, it is also true that this convenience has a significant impact on human society. Experts are divided on the merits of tablet PC use, particularly among infants and children , and the true impact on society is expected to become clear in the future.
Meanwhile, a statement from the UK's Association of Teachers and Lecturers ( ATL ) discusses the negative effects of children becoming overly dependent on tablets and ways to address them.
Infants 'unable to use toy building blocks' due to iPad addiction - Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10767878/Infants-unable-to-use-toy-building-blocks-due-to-iPad-addiction.html
◆The impact of tablet PCs
ATL found that children ages 3 to 4 who are skilled at using iPads can swipe their fingers across the screen, but show a significant decline in other dexterity skills. The study also warns that even older children are at increased risk of memory loss due to excessive tablet use, often preventing them from completing traditional paper-and-pencil tests. A physician's report also found that the number of people seeking treatment for impulsive behavior increased in 2013, including children as young as 4 years old.
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At the ATL conference, Colin Kinney, a primary school teacher in Northern Ireland, revealed that children who played games on tablet PCs the night before showed significantly poorer concentration when they came to school. He also revealed that teachers in the field have expressed concern about the increasing number of children who are skilled at touching and operating screens but are unable to perform simple tasks such as stacking blocks, and that parents of such children are boasting about their children's dexterity in using tablets.
Kinney also points out the danger of the current situation: 'The convenience of tablets, which provide instant results, is diminishing children's ability to learn from textbooks, and they are trading their 'genius computer skills' for the traditional paper-and-pencil learning.'
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Mark Montgomery, a teacher from Northern Ireland who also teaches Kinney, has published a study linking excessive tablet use to weight gain, aggressive behavior, fatigue, and mouse syndrome in children caused by prolonged use of the mouse.
◆ Efforts to prevent children from becoming addicted to tablet PCs
To combat tablet addiction among children, the ATL approved a plan to develop new guidelines for teachers and parents, including urging parents to limit their children's tablet use and to turn off home Wi-Fi at night to prevent over-reliance on tablets.
'It is our job as teachers to use technology wisely and productively, to ensure that it does not have a negative impact on children, that they do not become addicted to tablets, and that they do not engage in aggressive or antisocial behavior,' Montgomery said. He added, 'If you have bricks, you can use them to break a window, but you can also use them to build a house. The same can be said about the latest digital technology. As teachers, we need to teach children how to use technology in a positive way and ensure that they have a positive experience.'
It is true that the latest digital devices are convenient, but it is important to keep in mind that if we become overwhelmed by their convenience, it could actually lead to negative results, and we need to use them wisely.
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