Computers surround modern children everywhere. Work with this technique has become the norm for adults and kids. Indeed, this device is useful, and sometimes irreplaceable. But the technique is not always harmless, especially for children. The effect of the computer on the child, the benefits and harms can be found in the article.
Benefit
Experts and ordinary people noted the positive impact of the computer on the child. Parents see the following benefits of this technique:
- High speed of acquiring new knowledge and skills. Young children can learn the alphabet or count if using a computer or tablet.
- The development of strategic thinking. Children learn to count actions ahead. The speed of reaction, memory, determination develops.
- The technique allows you to work on the imagination, expand creative abilities through various games, modeling or drawing capabilities.
- The device allows you to distract the child, while parents need to do personal things.
- With the help of modern applications on electronic gadgets, parents are able to monitor where the child is.
- The technique can be used to prepare a student’s homework.
- Thanks to the computer, you can take online training at home, improve your skills.
- The horizons of the child are expanding.
To familiarize parents with the problem, teachers often show presentations about the impact of computers on children. Projects of this kind are an important part of teaching life history. These are important events, as many habits are formed both in the home environment and within the walls of the school.
But doctors and psychologists believe that there is a negative impact of the computer on children. This is noticed by parents. Therefore, the technique can be used, but in moderation. The negative impact of the computer on the child is described below.
Vision
Nature provided that the human eyes are less stressed when looking into the distance, and prolonged exposure to the screen greatly strains them. Therefore, the negative impact of the computer on the child’s vision is obvious, since you have to sit in front of the monitor at a distance of up to 50 cm. As a result, myopia appears, which is corrected by glasses.
There is also another consequence - dry eye syndrome. When you have to peer and strain your eyesight, blinking rarely occurs. Therefore, the cornea is washed worse by tear fluid, is not completely cleansed and does not receive enough nutrition. This is manifested in the form of redness and swelling of the eyes and eyelids. The child feels discomfort and irritation of the conjunctiva of the eyes, he has a desire to often blink or rub his eyes.
Spine
The negative effect of the computer on the health of children, which manifests itself in the form of strong tension of the back muscles, was also noticed. This occurs with prolonged sitting. The neck muscles are still very tired. These phenomena cause curvature of the spine.
Cervical kyphosis - stoop, S-shaped scoliosis appears if the pose is taken leg by foot. The spinal muscles with a sedentary lifestyle (physical inactivity) gain flabbiness. They cannot hold the spinal column, which ensures the curvature of the spine in early childhood.
Often these children have a headache. It develops due to muscle tension and displacement of the cervical vertebrae. From this there is a squeezing of blood vessels, therefore, a violation of the blood supply to the brain is noted.
It is necessary to pay attention to how the child sits, since problems with the spine can remain for life. There are a lot of research papers on this subject. The impact of computers on children is enormous. In younger students, scoliosis is sometimes detected. They still need to learn for a long time, and they already have a curvature.
Sedentary life
This is another negative effect of the computer on children and adolescents. Inadequate motor load is a risk for the appearance of diseases of the joints, heart, blood vessels, diabetes and obesity.
Due to a sedentary lifestyle, the immune system is at risk. It is in this that the influence of the computer on the child is dangerous. Research work has long revealed that physical activity supports normal vascular tone and the immune system.
Electromagnetic radiation
This should also be noted as the negative impact of the computer on the child's body. Electromagnetic radiation is presented in the form of waves that arise from the action of charged particles that propagate in space. From computers, telephones, televisions or other electronic devices comes low-frequency and radio-frequency electromagnetic radiation.
According to the World Health Organization, low-frequency and radio-frequency waves are recognized as carcinogenic, and therefore can lead to cancer. There is a connection between computer radiation and some ailments. These include cardiovascular diseases, hormonal disruptions, diseases of the immune, nervous, reproductive systems. Also against this background, chronic fatigue, depression appears, mental disorders and child behavior are observed.
Computer addiction
This effect of the computer on the development of the child also affects negatively. During the period of playing on the computer, the centers of the brain that are responsible for pleasure are in an excited state. If this happens regularly, then the need for this stimulation gradually arises. As a result, children cannot exist without electronic gadgets.
Teenagers may have the need for multiple control of social networks, checking email. Moreover, children react negatively to parental bans. In this situation, a psychologist can help.
It is important to consider that addiction appears when there is unlimited use of a computer and other similar equipment, and there is a lack of parental control. With the help of these devices, child development and leisure activities are often carried out, which is not so bad.
Violation of socialization
The influence of the computer on the psyche of children is negative. They get used to communicating on the Web, so in real life it is difficult for them to make acquaintances. Many are satisfied with communication on the Internet, because they consider it more free. In this case, you can not be afraid of condemnation from strangers on the other side of the monitor.
Instead of the usual games, including role-playing, children use computer games. But it is precisely in childhood that they teach interaction in society, communication with people.
Fatigue and overwork
These factors relate to the negative impact of the computer on the child. From the intense hard work of the brain, organs of vision, energy reserves are depleted. The body will have to work to the limit of its capabilities. Of course, this mode does not pass without a trace.
Irritability and aggression
Parents need to consider the impact of the computer on the child in order to help him in time. With the participation in computer games, children are under stressful conditions. Often this is associated with constant stress and acquired dependence, which makes the child irritable and aggressive.
The behavior becomes tough during games, the basis of which is battle, shooting, destruction, fighting weapons. Since the children's psyche is not fully formed, the child is critical of the events on the screen. Therefore, often computer experience is transferred to real life.
The negative impact of a computer on a child is a worldwide problem. To eliminate it, parents should monitor the teenager, his habits. The computer should not take up all your free time. There should be no uncontrollability and permissiveness.
Other consequences
The computer is considered a universal assistant. It is only necessary to install a new program or game, there is a variety, new opportunities and knowledge. Moreover, some perceive this as an extension of their horizons.
Usually games offer 1 or 2 options for response or development of events. Therefore, the thinking of children will be stereotyped, which prevents them from fully developing.
Parental isolation
Often, children who have played computer games since early childhood grow up selfish. They are isolated in their world, where they have game achievements. Not all parents are able to accept and understand these successes, especially if such activities interfere with schooling. There is a misunderstanding between generations, a commonality of interests is lost, disagreements and aggression arise.
Psychologists worry about changes in the psyche. Repeatedly performed analyzes of drawings on a free theme indicate that the images hide a feeling of fear, anxiety, closeness, and the need for defense. Children often draw weapons, battles, monsters. According to experts, this phenomenon comes from prolonged use of computers.
Also, with technology, the children are deprived of childhood. Electronic devices take up all your free time. But there are outdoor games, outdoor activities, hobbies, hobbies.
What are the parents wrong about?
Some parents purchase games or cartoons only in appearance and on the disk image. And there is a category of people who believe that children themselves can choose games. Parents always need to familiarize themselves with the information themselves, and then offer and allow children to watch it.
But joint viewing of films or cartoons has a positive effect. Parents can comment on controversial, twofold situations. Such views give children a sense of security and confidence.
Parents also believe that clicking on the buttons on the keyboard provides the development of fine motor skills of the hands of the child. But this is not so. Due to the same type of hand movements, motor development is not ensured. Therefore, board games should not be replaced with electronic ones. Only with the help of meticulous movements of the fingers, palpation of objects provides development.
Age and time
How much can a child spend behind a computer screen? In this case, you need to consider another TV, tablet, phone. However, many parents do not count the time spent on the computer for educational purposes. And this is wrong.
Children only 2 years old can watch TV, and no more than 20-30 minutes a day. The technique in the background, when mom watches and the baby is nearby, is also considered. Children should use phones, computers, tablets no earlier than 3-3.5 years. Babies 3-4 years old can be engaged in equipment no more than 40-60 minutes a day.
In 5-7 years, the time can be extended up to 1 hour 15 minutes. Children 7 years and older are recommended to spend 1.5 hours in front of the screen, and from 10 years - 2 hours a day. Time must be divided into parts and paused. In order to prevent myopia, breaks should be done every 20 minutes for 20-30 seconds. During a pause, the gaze needs to be translated into the distance.
How to replace a computer?
Most parents are happy with the appearance of such a technique. After all, this is a way to captivate the child and go about their business. But it is important to understand the harm of the computer. How to diversify leisure? The following methods can be used for this:
- Using educational and board games.
- Inventing games with safe items.
- Walking on the street.
- Visiting developing circles and sports sections.
- Reading books together, learning poems and songs, listening to music.
- Needlework or other creativity.
This is not the whole list of interesting activities. With children you can do anything. It only takes time and desire. A computer should be used in moderation, which will prevent addiction and negative effects on health and the psyche.
Work rules
When working with equipment, you need to follow some rules:
- Feet put on the floor at an angle of 90 degrees between the knee and thigh. Keep your back straight.
- It is necessary to firmly press the buttocks against the back of the chair so that the inside of the knee is in contact with the seat. The child’s back should have support on the back of the chair and preservation of natural posture.
- It is advisable to sit on a chair with armrests, the height of which should be suitable. This will allow you to relax your arms and shoulders.
- The keyboard and mouse should be close enough so that the elbows lie on the armrests. This will prevent tension in the hand, from palm to neck.
- The monitor should be at eye level. The distance between the equipment and the seated person should be such that everything can be seen without tilting the back.
- 30 minutes after exercise, you need to change the position of the body, get up and walk for a few minutes to improve blood circulation.
- If work on the computer takes several hours, the eyes should be given rest, and the recommended exercises should be performed.
Compliance with these rules eliminates the loss of cervical and lumbar vertebral discs. With them, it is possible to save the child from the negative consequences of working at a computer. The rules are suitable for children and adults.
Parent Tips
To reduce the negative impact of technology on children, parents should adhere to the following recommendations:
- First, you should stipulate the rules for using a computer in the family. This applies to time, duration and other nuances.
- It is important to control how much time and what the child does. You must view your search history.
- It is undesirable to leave children alone with the equipment, so it is better not to install the computer in the children's room.
- You should teach your child to take breaks, do exercises for the eyes.
- Children's leisure should be organized interestingly. It should include a walk in the park, cycling, rollerblading, skiing, hiking, picnics, fishing. An alternative must be offered, not prohibited.
- A parental control program should be installed on equipment that protects the child from links and clicks on prohibited resources.
- You need to select and install only those games and cartoons that have been studied independently.
- It is required to build trusting relationships with the child. Constant criticism leads the kid or teenager to the virtual world, because there he feels success and support.
- It is important to be interested in the hobbies of the child. It is necessary to make his life diverse. Children need activities that will not allow him to delve into virtual life. For this there are sections, circles, a pool, music, pets.
Even if there is a problem of unlimited use of a computer, and you can’t agree with a child, you should not be upset. Many children can exchange games and computers for the time that will be spent with loved ones for an interesting lesson. It is important to teach your child to use the technique wisely. In this case, the example given by adults is important.