Tablets and Their Impact on Early Childhood Development
Technology’s easy access has made it possible to put tablets into the hands of children across the world, hypnotizing them with bright colors, captivating sounds and easy-to-use features that have quickly become staples in households across the globe. But behind their convenience and entertainment lies a big concern regarding their long-term impacts during important stages of early development. Is these tablets just a harmless distraction or do they have long-term risks on children’s mental, physical and social growth?
Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash
Screen Time vs. Dream Time
One of the biggest risks associated with tablet usage among young children is its impact on their sleep patterns. When they use screens close to bedtime, the blue light emitted from these devices interferes with the production of melatonin which is the hormone responsible for sleep. This can cause them to have difficulty falling asleep which then ripples to slowing down their growth process by depriving them of important restful REM cycles needed for growth and development. Poor rest during early childhood not only impacts the children’s mood and behavior but can also impact their memory and cognitive skills which has negative ramifications down through their school years.
Tablets Can Have Physical Consequences
Even though tablets are light and portable, these digital distractions have an invisible physical cost for children. Repetitive or prolonged use may lead to “text neck”, an uncomfortable condition caused by frequently tilting one’s head downward to look at the screen. Poor posture while sitting, combined with lack of physical activity, can slow down their muscular and skeletal development. Eye strain, commonly referred to as digital eye strain, shows itself in dryness, irritation, and blurred vision, which is not good conditions for young bodies undergoing development. The physical development in children should be nurtured and supported holistically for the best possible results.
Social Skills Are at Risk
Early childhood is a period of discovery and socialization through human connection. Going overboard with tablet usage will limit these interactions in real life and delay important communication and social skills development. Screens will start to replace real playtime with other children for socializing purposes such as empathy training, conflict resolution or teamwork activities. Face-to-face interactions become secondary, risking emotional intelligence development along with relational development.
Cognitive Effect of Digital Overload
Although there are a lot of apps that claim to be educational, too much exposure to digital content in early childhood will slow down certain cognitive development. Tablets provide quick rewards and instant gratification that may shorten their attention spans over time and discourage imaginative play and problem-solving. These are two very important aspects of early learning. Also, passive consumption does not translate to meaningful learning, so children may struggle applying their knowledge gained on the screens in real-life scenarios.
Conclusion
While tablets can give your children opportunities for learning and entertainment, overusing them in early childhood will jeopardize their physical health, cognitive abilities and emotional well-being. Moderation and mindful parenting are very important here to help make sure that tablets enhance rather than hinder the growth of children in these formative years. The future generation deserves not just an early headstart in technology but the chance to grow, play, and learn in a special and healthy environment.
