ImMobile Kids

Dear Friends…

                      Do you have kids at home? Do they handle smart phones? If yes...This article is just for you. When I was a child I remember my mom showing me trains and vehicles while feeding me. I also have seen young mothers pointing out the moon saying funny tales to feed their kids. Few use to tell lots of interesting and lovely stories during the bed time and meal time as well.

Later on Television came into existence, children were glued in front of the TV and now “Tabs and smart phones” are given into the hands of tiny tots. I can happily list down my favorite childhood games: “hide and seek, Lock and key, Kitchen sets, tent making, Carom, Chinese whisper, Rock paper Scissors, playing cards, Chess, Ludo etc.,” but when I asked the present generation toddlers, they replied “Talking Tom, Temple Run, Angry bird, Ice cream Paradise, Candy crush etc.,” Toddlers are touching screens rather than toys.It’s heart breaking that their play age was totally lost in the digital world.

Once I asked a 6 year old boy “Who is your best friend?” He innocently replied “Chota Beam” (a cartoon character) How Pathetic?!  He couldn’t relate with his classmates due to regular “mobile” and “tab: usage. Now-a-days 4 year kid can open Whats app, send voice notes, watch YouTube videos, and play online games. 3 year kid can unlock the phone with a right pattern, they are familiar with volume buttons, camera, and even they can change the screen brightness. As a matter of fact they are not smart, they are mirroring us. Little ones are reflecting their parents.

During the Church sermon, Family Functions, parties and social gatherings, I can see few young couples with kids eyes fixed to the smart phones. In those days our parents will teach how to behave in church and other social gatherings. 

Facts on Mobile Kids:

• On average, kids around 12 years old are getting their first phone. 
• Over 20 percent of kids under the age of 8 know how to use their parent’s cell phones.
• 38 percent of children under 2 used a mobile device for media
• Dads are more likely to give kids smart phones in elementary school while moms are more likely to give kids smart phones in middle school.
• Children absorb more of this radiation than adults. The average exposure from use of the same mobile phone is higher by a factor of 2 in a child’s brain and higher by a factor of 10 in the bone marrow of the skull.”   
• Wireless radiation is classified by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Class 2 B carcinogen. This classification is based on evidence of increased brain tumors in heavy users of cell phones observed over ten years. Heavy use was defined as 30 minutes per day. 

Causes of Mobile Kids:

• Parents’ ignorance about the harmful effects of mobile usage.
•  Parents’ lack of control over their little ones (thus smart phones control them smartly.)
• Parents’ need for privacy
• Parents’ Phubbing their kids. (Phubbing is a act of ignoring one's companion in order to pay attention to one's smart phone or other devices)
• Parents giving no/less quality time.

Consequences of Mobile kids:

Physical illness:

1. Sleep Deprivation
2. Epidemic Obesity
3. Developmental Delay. Example: Speech delay.
4. Decreased brain growth resulting on ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and impaired learning.
5. Retinoblastoma- Eye Cancer due to eye strain
6. Non- Malignant Tumors and cancer

Mental illness:

1. Mobile / Gadgets Addiction
2. Aggression- Being Rude, Rough and violence.
3. Depression, Anxiety, ADHD, Bipolar and Anorexia
4. Digital Dementia – Memory loss

Behavioral issues:

1. Altered Child- Parent relationship
2. Decreased Parent and child attachment
3. Affected Academic Performances
4. Diminished Creativity
5. Lack of individuality.
6. Unsustainable – lack of practical skills and living skills.

Mobile Generation illness

1. Text - Claw: Holding the fingers in the position necessary to keep your mobile steady while tapping and swiping causes inflammation and tendon issues. 
2. Selfie – Elbow: It is very similar to something like tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow. It is caused by repetitively using the arm in a certain way. This can cause stress on the joints and muscles and will eventually lead to small tears.

Prevention on Mobile Kids:

• Keeping the child engaged. Instead of video games and online games, expose them to outdoor games and indoor games.
• Spending Quality Time. Instead of Talking Tom, Parent need to sit and talk with their toddler. Instead of YouTube Lullabies, Mother need to sing. Parents need to narrate short stories without depending on online.
•  Setting a Password or Patterns for the phones.
• Being an example. Children See & Children Do
• Using the phone only for important communication.
• Setting strict time limits and following it.
• Using Child Proof Apps with time limits.
• Edifying the child about the adverse effects of gadgets. Appreciate them when they follow it.             

Pull out the children from digital domain. Show them the reality. Connect them with Siblings.Reveal the importance of Family bonding. Encourage hobbies such as reading, painting etc., Expose them to nature. Introduce them to pets. Allow them to have Friends. Create a Better World for them not a Digital World.

Let’s Stop Giving our Techs

Let’s Start Giving our Time