What is technology?
Technology is the sum of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation.
Technology completely changed the way children interact and play together. Instead of going out and spending time with friends, playing outside and verbally interacting with each other they are spending most of the time in front of smartphones and television. This practice has a huge impact on our children’s development. Unrestricted access to social media and internet can impact children’s growth and may cause problems in developing meaningful and long-lasting relationships with others.
· Negative impact of technology on children’s development.
Firstly spending most of the time in front of smartphones and television may cause problems with concentration and lead to distraction. This practice can have a negative influence on children’s education. It is because that children’s brain is still in the process of development and may be more susceptible to bad influence. Secondly, the social skills are weakening because of that children are playing video games instead of interacting with each other in real life. Children who are most of the time interacting with technology, especially the ones playing video games may not be capable of realizing the differences between the real world and the imaginary world. They can experience nightmares and have huge problems with anger or fear of being alone. Unlimited and uncontrolled access to the internet may cause addiction. Children who are addicted to the internet, or any technological devices can be frustrated and contact with them may be difficult.
But technology has a negative impact not only on mental health but also may affect physical development causing physical problems like; problems with vision, neck pain, arm; hand and finger numbness, or overstrain. We can also observe that children who spend time surrounded by technology are delayed in physical development. This is due to the lack of movement that is necessary for strong muscle development and mobility.
· Positive impact of technology on children’s development.
As well as technology may have a negative impact on our children’s it can also have a positive impact. If only it is controlled by parents or any other adults it might help children to develop new skills and bring some benefits to their life’s. Technology allows for creativity and gives uncounted ways of expressing ourselves. Children’s imagination is uncontained. Where in the past they had only crayons and colored pens now they have computers, tablets, and even more to create what they want.
They still have pens and paper, but now, instead of only drawing a picture they can make 3D animations and then even printed with 3D printers.
Technology can also improve problem solving and overcoming a wide range of obstacles. I believe that we all heard about “survival mode”. It is a mode in many types of games where player is tasked to stay alive as long as possible.
One of the most popular one is Minecraft. In that game you can choose the “survival mode”. Players in that game are dropped into new and different environments, and they must immediately build a shelter and collect items in order to survive. The game encourages players to come up with their own solutions and ideas. That practice may help children’s in real life – such as in doing homework.
Conclusion
We can’t say that technology is either good or bad. If it is only used with sense and children are guided by their parents it can be very useful and help children in developing new skills and in overcoming problems. We need to remember that children are very susceptible and without our control technology may cause more harm than good. In today's world we have a wide range of parental applications that can help control our children’s on the internet. But we also need to keep in mind that we should talk to our children and explain to them what harm technology causes.
Bibliography
Cole, L., 16 May 2019. Mentalup. [Online]
Available at: https://www.mentalup.co/blog/positive-and-negative-effects-of-technology-on-children
Dhruvin Patel, M., March 4 2017. Thrive Global. [Online]
Available at: https://medium.com/thrive-global/will-technology-ruin-your-childrens-development-663351c76974
Ryan, May 10, 2018. IDTech. [Online]
Available at: https://www.idtech.com/blog/benefits-of-technology-for-children
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