Gadgets and How Teenagers Are Using Them

Introduction

Computerized gadgets have truly assumed control over individuals' lives, and that situation does not appear as though it will change at any point soon. Cell phones, iPads, and tablets have become an integral part of individuals' lives, making social associations difficult and, thus, often nonexistent. Nowadays, there is an early age start to excessive exposure to digital devices. Little children have been acquainted with the life of technology from birth, resulting in unhealthy screen time (Chen, Heritage, & Lee, 2005). This sort of early introduction represents a lot of risks to little children, some of whom end up with screen dependency issues. Due to increased screen time for babies, there has been a noticeable change in the quality of their thoughts.

Gadgets and How Teenagers Are Using Them

In this paper, we will discuss the importance of monitoring toddlers and technology and why it's important to me, particularly focusing on how my daughter Averie is taking a sleep aid. Monitoring toddlers and technology is crucial because exposure to unhealthy screen time can impact brain development, the learning process, and sleeping habits. Research demonstrates that the first two years of an adolescent's life are the most essential for mental health and learning processes; it's when they need to gain from different human engagements (Plowman, Stephen, & McPake, 2010). At this stage, they should primarily be playing and interacting with other children instead of being glued to the couch the entire day staring at the TV or playing games.

A child's brain may not suffer much due to its flexible nature, but their health will be affected by the excessive exposure to these technological gadgets. This would not be the case if the little child's brains were engaged in interactive activities rather than sitting in one place all day. Furthermore, research has found that the time kids spend with screens significantly affects their resting habits. They discovered that the bright light emitted from screens interferes with a hormone called melatonin, which induces sleep. This disturbs little children's sleeping habits, causing them to rest less and become frequently tired. Sufficient rest in little children is highly advised since it's crucial to their mental health (Holloway, Green, & Livingstone, 2013).

Strategies for Managing Screen Time

A few researchers argue that a little child's mental health can be improved by having a lot of activities to engage them, especially by watching educational cartoons and games. Screen time does not necessarily have to be a hindrance to a child's development, both physically and mentally; the main issue is how to regulate screen time. Controlling a little child's screen time has become increasingly difficult for parents to manage due to the advancement of technology. To complicate matters, educational sectors worldwide have adopted the use of computers and tablets in schools to aid the education process and children's social development.

It's essential for parents to understand that the issue isn't solely about the amount of time kids spend on screens, but also the quality of the media their children are exposed to. Additionally, parents need to lead by example by spending more time with their kids instead of their computers, ensuring that children see the value of social interactions. They need to balance their own device use when their children are present, not just regulate their children's screen time without doing so themselves.

Conclusion

Finally, your children may sometimes be exposed to information or content that has not been filtered for children's viewing, so it's important to talk with your kids about how to navigate the content they interact with. It's also crucial to monitor your child's screen time, primarily through teaching them what is acceptable and what isn't. Observing children's screen time has proven to be a challenge for many parents; thus, there is a need for more informed ideas on how to tackle this issue.

References:

• Chen, G., Heritage, M., & Lee, J. (2005). The Impact of Early Exposure to Technology on Child Development. Journal of Educational Technology, 12(3), 45-59.
• Holloway, D., Green, L., & Livingstone, S. (2013). Zero to Eight: Young Children and Their Internet Use. EU Kids Online.
• Plowman, L., Stephen, C., & McPake, J. (2010). Growing Up with Technology: Young Children Learning in a Digital World. Routledge.