KIDS & GADGETS: PARENTS BOW TO PEER PRESSURE

Technology comes at a price. Not only does it dig deep into the pocket, but is also detrimental to the health of children.

Recent trend amongst school children addicted to laptops, mobile phones and tablets has brought into focus the diminishing gap between technology, peer pressure and parental compulsions. “These are the new babysitting tools of parents who want to keep their wards occupied while they finish their chores. In doing so, they expose children to video games, music and other unnecessary gadgets which becomes an addiction for children,” says Anupama Rajaram, teacher and counsellor.

Principal and director of Pallavi Model School, Bowenpally, Jaishree Rao says, “Parents are always in a hurry to endorse the best of technologies for their children without understanding its consequences. They simply hand over mobile phones in order to stay connected without realising the consequences.”

Parents complain that they too have succumb due to peer pressure. “Just one family restraining use of these gadgets is of no use as the child feels left out while other kids are playing the latest video games on laptops, internet sites and are conversing on these common subjects. If the child does not conform, he feels left out,” said Joydeep Mukherjee, father of three sons.

While counselling is important for both parents and children, it is also the need to restrain children which will go a long way in making things easy for both segments.