The American Academy of Pediatrics released a clinical report that advises parents to stop giving toddlers below the age of two digital toys as it impedes their development. It is cited that there are little benefits offered by screen time and they should be interacting with caregivers instead. Creative play would foster warm, supportive interactions between caregivers and toddlers, developing their behavioral, social, and emotional skills.

Total screen time should be limited and supervised by caregivers. Although there are benefits to using technology as means to deliver critical skills and information, parents have to interact with their children over the content to ensure they are receiving developmental messages. Leaving them alone to their devices will not be as beneficial.  

Read the full article on The Atlantic: Pediatricians want parents to stop giving toddlers digital toys

Analysis:

Nowadays on public transport, we see many toddlers sitting in prams with a screen hooked in front of them while their parents or caregivers are also on their phones. This generation of children who will be growing up with technology at a tender age would likely develop differently as they grow.

It is difficult to see the benefits of handing digital devices to young children to occupy their attention. Just tapping and swiping the screen would not provide them the psychomotor skills that come with physical play. Even adults are facing the challenges of being digitally connected, yet socially isolated. Will we be raising children who also cannot adequately seek meaningful offline interactions if they only learn how to be stimulated by screen time? It is a worrying trend to see family gatherings where children are engaged by their devices instead of playing outdoors, or engaged in technology-free interactions.

Questions for further personal evaluation:

  1. What do you feel about giving children digital devices at a young age?
  2. How do you think digital devices are changing the way we interact with others?

Useful vocabulary:

  1. ‘adjunct’: a supplementary addition rather than an essential part.
  2. ‘adage’: a saying or proverb

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