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Technology is constantly evolving and for several years has allowed us to live a more comfortable life. But do you know what these mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets do to children?
Children should be prevented from accessing devices such as smartphones, tablets and the like. These technologies have an effect on children that is 4 to 5 times more adverse than ordinary televisions. This can lead to developmental disorders in them.
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Many studies point out that these technologies harm children. Yet many adults continue to allow their offspring unlimited access to them.
Not only children, but even toddlers today immerse themselves in the virtual world, which deprives them of critically important factors for their proper development, behavior and learning.
Here follow 11 reasons why you should keep your children away from electronic devices.
1. Rapid brain growth
Between birth and 2 years the volume of a child’s brain triples and continues to develop rapidly up to the age of 21.
Early brain development is influenced by environmental stimuli, or their absence.
The brain exposed to excessive use of these technologies later showed tendencies to attention deficit, delayed cognitive development, impaired intellectual ability, increased impulsivity and reduced capacity for self-regulation.
2. Slowed development
Mobile technologies limit children’s movement, which slows their development. 1 in 3 children arrives at school with delayed mental development, which adversely affects their academic progress.
Movement strengthens attention and the ability to learn. When technologies are used before the age of 12, they have an adverse effect on children.
3. Obesity epidemic
Children who are allowed to have electronic devices in their bedrooms have a 30% higher risk of obesity. In the USA and Canada every third child is obese. Europe is quickly catching up.
30% of obese children develop diabetes.
Obese people have a much higher risk of heart attack and stroke. This significantly shortens their lifespan. Children of the 21st century may be the first generation not to outlive their parents.
4. Lack of sleep
60% of parents do not monitor the use of mobile technologies by their children. 75% of children are allowed to use them in their bedrooms.
The aforementioned 75% of children permanently lack sleep to the extent that it affects their grades at school.
5. Mental illness
Overuse of technologies is a causal factor in many mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, difficulties forming relationships, attention deficit, autism, bipolar disorder, psychosis and problematic child behavior.
Today 1 in 6 children has some mental health problem.
6. Aggression
Violence in the media provokes aggression even in children. Many mobile games are violent or sexual in nature, which has an equally adverse effect on children.
In the USA media violence is already characterized as a public health risk because it directly influences children’s aggression.
There are increasingly frequent reports of the use of coercive measures and seclusion rooms to manage aggressive behavior in children.
7. Digital dementia
Media showing rapid movement can cause lack of attention and reduced concentration. They impair memory by causing the brain to change the arrangement of its neural connections in the frontal cortex.
Children who cannot concentrate their attention are also unable to learn.
8. Addiction
When parents expose children to a greater amount of technology, they themselves withdraw from the children. In the absence of a parent-child bond, the child attaches to the device. This then leads to addiction.
1 in 11 children aged 8 to 18 is addicted to technology today.
9. Electromagnetic radiation emissions
In May 2011 the World Health Organization (WHO) classified mobile phones into risk category 2B (possible carcinogen) precisely because of their radiation emissions.
In 2013 Dr. Anthony Miller from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Public Health, based on research recommended that microwave radiation frequencies be classified into category 2A (probably carcinogenic).
10. unsustainability
The way children are raised and taught about technology today is unsustainable.
Unfortunately, there will be no future for children, because there is no future for children who overuse technology.
11. Strain on the eyes
It is common for children who stare at a screen for hours to develop eye disorders. This is also called computer vision syndrome.
Recently the media reported that there are 30% more nearsighted children today. The cause is prolonged near work and also a lack of daylight, because children sit at home in front of screens instead of playing outside.
You can prevent vision problems in children by limiting their screen time to 30 minutes a day.
