Cost of using digital nannies

RECENTLY, I noticed my two year-old-nephew with a smartphone in hand. The toddler’s attention was so totally focused on the device that he did not respond to anything else happening around him. When I tried to take the phone away, he threw such a terrible tantrum that I had to give it back to him immediately.

I believe many young parents go through this routine daily. Very often, handheld digital devices like smartphones and tablets become “shut-up toys” for children. When parents are very busy, the gadgets become perfect tools for dealing with their children especially when they are throwing tantrums.

But giving children these gadgets is actually a terrible mistake. One major effect that toddlers may suffer is speech delay. The longer the time they spend with their digital devices, the more likely their speech development will be stunted. A new study from the University of Toronto revealed that for every 30 minutes in handheld screen time, the child has 49% increased risk of speech delay!

Although this is the first study conducted on the negative impact of handheld devices on children’s lingual abilities, alarm bells have been ringing about it much earlier.

As early as 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) had discouraged any form of electronic media for children below the age of two.

Children build their lingual world through real-life interactions. Generally, they try to imitate the sounds or words spoken to them so the digital devices are robbing them of their learning opportunities.

Besides speech delay, prolonged exposure to electronic media could even lead to attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A British study on 700 families found that for every hour infants spent with smartphones or tablets, they lose 16 minutes of sleep. The effects evolve as the children grow.

Although I’m not a parent myself, I can understand the demands of parenthood by watching my cousins with young families. These parents often struggle to achieve a balance between family life and their career. Nevertheless, they must realise that technology is not always reliable as helping hands when bringing up their children.

So, instead of dropping a digital device onto their laps to keep them occupied and entertained, sing nursery rhymes with your children. Read to them and let them enjoy the stories through your voice. DHESEGAAN BALA KRISHNAN Universiti Malaya