Post University
July 24, 2015
Introduction
Modern technology has been playing a significant role in children development. Nowadays technology has improved and is accessible in every home. As a result, it becomes fundamental in children development. Some of the appliances such as TVs, Radio, mobile phones and computers are the main aspects of technology that plays a significant role in children development. Also, the internet is one of the primary technology that has an enormous impact on children life. Many children have opened social network accounts where they correspond with their friends, post their feelings and follow updates. A survey was done in 2013 that involved interview of 1463 parents revealed that most youth uses media devices such as tablets, smartphones and follow TV programs. As a result, this technology has played a significant role in children development. Children have achieved various knowledge from technology and have exposed to the whole world. Nowadays, children have taken advantage of the shift from analogue digital. Most parents and guardians have bought their children mobile, computers, and tablets for gaming, learning and for fun. As the children grow, they keep advancing in technology. Therefore, technology has contributed to children positive development. However, it has adversely contributed to poor children growth and development. Since technology has both positive and adverse impacts children, kids should be restricted from harmful technologies. More so, parents and all players should ensure that children are not exposed to harmful technology that will adversely affect positive growth and development. The following points will justify that adverse and favorable impacts of technology in child development. (Rowan, 2014)
The education sector has benefited from improved technology. Availability and accessibility of cheap internet technologies have helped children get rid of literacy. In many countries, children are introduced to computers at early ages. In fact at grade one, a child is taught on how to use a computer. However, in the underdeveloped countries, things are opposite. Children grow without the use of computers. Now, how does technology impact on child development as a far as education is concerned? As quoted earlier, the internet is one of the primary technology that affect children habits, growth, and development. Currently, children have benefited from Internet technologies since they can access any information they need. More so, they can research on any assignments assigned by their instructor. Frequent use of internet, therefore, help them to realize what the world needs and as a result they can choose their passion careers. Advanced technology in the publishing industry has provided children with enough materials that enhance learning. As a result, children get enlightened and become literate where some of them are motivated to become others. On the side of co-curriculum activities, technology has exposed children to many activities that promote health. Good health results in positive child development. (Druin, 2012)
Technology has also played a fundamental role in children development as far as communication is concerned. Communication is the greatest pillar in every sector of the economy, include family and relationships. Through the use of mobile phones, children have known how to communicate properly and air their problems to their parents. More so, technology allows children interact with their friends through chatting. As quoted earlier, social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram has a created a platform where children can talk, update comments and participate in discussion forums. As a result, they interpersonal skills that are very crucial in child development. Internet technology educates children on their role and responsibilities in the society.
Furthermore, entertainment technology contributes a lot to child development. TVs, film, movies among others play a significant role in ensuring that a child thinks beyond boundaries. How? Suppose a children a child is following a series. The child can be able to predict what will happen in the next episode. This shows that entertainment technology opens the mind of a child and as a result innovation and invention will emerge. Therefore, entertainment technologies have a positive impact on child development. Several motivation and counseling books have been published to ensure that children grow using the right code. Inspiration from recorded videos from motivation speakers helps children to be virtuous and responsible. More so, children can obtain films and movies whose theme are morally based. (Allday, 2013)
On the other hand, technology has adversely affected child development. First, parents have forgotten their responsibilities on monitoring their children. In the modern society, technology is more preferred than children. It is reasonable thing to find a parent buys a 32-inch television yet the child does not have adequate learning resources. This affects child development as far as education is concerned. More so, parents have been attracted by entertainment technologies such that they do not get time to talk with their children. A guardian plays a significant duty of ensuring that a child gets basic needs and is free from negative influence and oppression. However, they have been too busy to an extent of forgetting their children. As a result, children have been growing up without good background, and many of them end up in illegal activities. Furthermore, overuse of advanced technology has led to deterioration of children health. Children in United States of America and Canada suffer from diabetes and obesity due to technology overuse. More so, autism, Diagnoses of ADHD, coordination disorder,
Unintelligible speech, learning difficulties, developmental delays, sensory processing disorder, anxiety among others are associated with overuse of technology. A typical example is when a child takes drugs for increasing weight. As a result, the child ends up being obese. It is the responsibility of the parents to instruct the children on what they should or eat. (Allday, 2013)
Advanced technology especially the internet has spoiled children’s minds. Those young minds who have social network accounts spend most of the available time chatting instead of readings. This hurts child development. More so, many children access pornographic material from the internet. These materials are harmful since they will be tempted to implement whatever they see. Pornographic materials have resulted in early pregnancy, homosexuality among others. Consequently, the internet technology affects the growth and development of young minds
Addiction and habits adopted by children is one of the primary impacts of technology. According to Kaiser Foundation (2010), children use an average of 7.5 hours on media and other forms entertainment. The research revealed that over 75 percentage of the children have a TV screen in their bedrooms while more than 50 percent homes in North American have TV all days. Most children in America suffer from visual and audio problems. Therefore, technology plays a significant role in child development. (Rowan, 2014)
In conclusion, advanced technology is vital to the growth of the economy. However, if overused, it might result in an undesirable effect on children the entire society in general. Therefore, parents should get back to duty and start monitoring their children. They should prune the child to achieve good morals. This can be reached if only parents restrict children to the overuse of technology. Thus, technology is fundamental in child development since it can result in positive and adverse effect.
Works Cited
Allday, E. (2013). Technology a fundamental change in child development. SFGATE, 1-5.
Druin, A. (2012). The Role of children in the design of new technology. Institute of advanced computer studies, 1-6.
Rowan, C. (2014). The Impact of Technology in Developing a Child. The Huffington Post, 1-3.