World Children's Day And Parental Controls On Children's Gadgets

Children and technology illustration (finelightarts / Pixabay)

JAKARTA - The development of technology has become universal and is used by almost all groups. Not only used by adults, now children are also starting to use technology to carry out all their activities.

It is undeniable that children born in the current millennial era have easily mastered technological devices and devices. But it should also be noted, parental supervision of electronic devices that are given to children.

Reporting from the New York Times, a research shows that 70 percent of parents allow their children aged 6 months to 4 years to play with device devices. Another 65 percent also do the same, it's just that devices are used to calm children when in public places.

Maybe giving a child a device could be an alternative way to be calm and parents do other work. However, it should be noted, if the child can quickly learn new things from what their parents have given them.

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- UNICEF (@UNICEF) November 16, 2019

Quoted from the research report of DR. Aric Sigman, a psychologist from the United States who wrote Screen Dependency Disorder: A New Challenge for Child Neurology, said that prolonged provision of devices to children can cause symptoms of addiction.

For example, children have started to be given smartphones to play for more than 6 hours by their parents. This can trigger a child's tantrum attitude, when the child no longer holds a device such as a cellphone to play.

Not only in young children, the problem of gadget addiction can also have a negative impact on the physical and mental conditions of adolescent children. This is triggered by the attitude of parents who often provide access to technology and the internet, without supervision.

Research conducted by the Royal Society for Public Health in the UK, with 1,500 respondents aged 14-24 years, shows that teenage children will be calmer when accessing and viewing social media. Some of the benchmark social media platforms are Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Snapchat.

The study studied what respondents felt through images or photos on social media and the impact on mental health. Based on the research, Instagram was rated the worst for mental health, followed by Snapchat in second place.

"It's interesting to see Instagram and Snapchat as the worst social media for mental health. These two apps seem to encourage feelings of anxiety in young people," said Dr. Becky Inkster, a researcher at the University of Cambridge.

World Children's Day

Along with that problem, right on this day November 20 is celebrated as World Children's Day. The annual commemoration of member states of the United Nations (UN) on their commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and implementing appropriate children's rights for the 21st century.

Mental health problems and addiction to devices in child development are topics that are of great concern to the World Health Organization (WHO). They advised parents not to allow babies and toddlers to not be allowed to watch television or mobile screens before turning 2 years old.

Let's build a 🌍 where every child is safe from harm and has the opportunity to learn. 📚More from @UNICEF on Wednesday's #WorldChildrensDay: https://t.co/FsKhEeDP2t pic.twitter.com/DraNlQsOeE

- United Nations (@UN) November 20, 2019

Quoted from the BBC, WHO recommends that the screen time limit for toddlers aged 2-4 years is one hour a day, even better if the bus is reduced. This is set to prevent inactivity in children, which is a risk factor for death and is linked to obesity globally.

WHO guideline writer, Dr. Juana Willumsen, said that instead of giving children devices just for screen time, it is better for parents to be able to manage time and use it for quality time with their children.

"Reading books with the child, for example, can help them develop language skills. Children who are given a tablet to stay still while sitting in a chair will not get the same quality. Children should be given the opportunity in a day to play actively and we have to reduce the screen. sedentary and passive time, "he said.

There is nothing wrong with introducing technology devices from an early age to children. As long as the role of parents in supervising and guiding children to take advantage of access to technology needs to be improved.

A study released by the Journal of Depression and Anxiety, said the positive impact of using smartphones for children can improve children's motor development through activities on gadgets, which require them to move their fingers and hands. But again, the role of parents is needed in supervising children along with technological developments.