Technological devices interfere with the development of the child, creating a fake relationship between him and the outside world
In one of the first numbers of 2015, we deepened the all -current theme of relationship between children and digital technology. Smartphones, cell phones, tablets and who knows what other devices will be in the hands of the generation touch screen. Vincenzo Calia, family pediatrician, interview Paola Cosolo Marangon, consultant and educator of the psycho -pedagogical center of Piacenza.
Are we starting with a direct question, today these technologies in children education are bad or good?
As strange as it may seem, this is a difficult question. Certainly new technologies should not be demonized. I could say that they are good if we are aware of how to use them and if the educational parent is a parent who facilitates, with rules and rules, The correct approaching new technologies, Therefore, helping the little ones to get in confidence with them, always keeping in mind their development and the different possibilities and needs that characterize all ages.
Every day in my clinic you arrive families with phones, tablets, and very often, even in the case of children of seven, eight or ten months, I see that the parents use these tools to distract their children, to make them be good or make them open their mouths to be visited. Once all this was done by relating to the little one. Is this use so early and pleased by parents, almost proud to see how the child touches even with the finger the screen, is it an appropriate behavior?
No, it is absolutely not an appropriate relationship. Helping children approach technology does not mean this. What you see is what you can find even if only by turning on the street, the classic scene of the child who protests e The babysitter-smartphone is found to keep silent. The point is that the charm of these objects is very high because they are carriers of large stimuli.
The child, curious as he is and attentive to all the news and all things, is clearly Very capable also of maneuvering these devices. Not for nothing, these children are part of the so -called generation touch screen. I don’t like to think about the time spent with nostalgia, but I wonder why We do not have the patience to make a child feel calm using other strategiesor even to let him freely manifest his emotions of the moment, for example crying.
I think of the bicycle: it is natural that at 8 years of age a child uses it to run and play, but if I imagine a one -year -old boy in the saddle it is clear that he is not an appropriate tool for his age. Does the same thing applies to digital technology? Are age -based rules necessary, given that each phase of growth correspond to different tools and uses?
I always tell parents that giving a smartphone to kids without explaining how and why it is used is how to give them the keys to the car without these having a license. From our assessments it emerges that Before 3 years a child should not get in touch with technological devices.
This is because in this phase the child is learning to get in touch with the world and with the dimensions of real life. Put it in front of a device that creates a fake relationship, given that in using these tools only two senses are activated, is something that the child does not need. Instead, The infant needs to touch, hear, listen, manipulate, get dirty, get angry and, above all, to enter into relationship.
Up to 3 yearsTherefore, zero technology. The thing that rests me, however, is the habit of some parents to make the child fall asleep with the music of the smartphone in the ear. Often it is thought that this is fine, because the music is beautiful and because maybe it works, but this attitude is strongly wrong. It would be useful Return to the lullaby or the fairy talerestoring the relationship between us and our children.
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Up to 3 years zero screens, too bad that the parent arrives at home and part of the time in the family you pass by peeking, looking or writing on the phone. Shouldn’t you therefore also move on to the prohibition of use for the parents themselves?
Of course it would be useful, only that it is difficult to prohibit something to him. Who are we to tell a parent not to use their devices? Moreover, there is an awareness that perhaps is missing. The child learns imitating, Especially between 3 and 6 years old, and this is an important moment because it should act as a spy to the parent, allowing him to learn to self -regulate in the use of digital technology.
We adults, born before the nineties, are part of the analog era and we must admit that we are in love with these devices to the point not only to be used, but often to be used by them. Giving rules therefore becomes fundamental To help children understand that these tools are not a direct extension of our arm, as unfortunately it happens.
Any more advice on the rules to be adopted?
First of all it would be good to ensure that the first contact between the child and the smartphone took place together with the parent. At 6 or 7 years old, the game on the tablet together with mom and dad is lawful (we also talk about it in our article Ten things that girls and boys do not need).
Another important thing is the use of the controlled network by the adult (“Parental Control “). In addition, the child must navigate with precise rules and precise times because the network is a drug, we are captured and we do not realize the passing time. The ability to turn off the devices is very important, especially at night. It is happening that the boys often wake up during the night to see if there are messages.
In conclusion, let’s talk about school. By now, all older boys have cell phones connected to the internet, perhaps to chat with the bench partner as he once did with the classic ticket. How do we govern all this?
It is from 2007 a legislation of the Ministry of Education which prohibits the use of mobile phones, the same goes for smartphones and tablets, during lessons. This rule applies to both students and teachers. Already respecting the norm would be a good start.
Second thing, We should create greater cohesion between the world of school and that of the family. There are many resistance also from parents in not giving your children the cell phone because there is a lack of trust in the child’s ability to be autonomous and to self -regulate. This excess of care triggers a sense of frustration in the child for the hours that passes away from home. It has been seen that in school environments where the rules are respected, Children manage to learn much more, because they are concentrated on what they do.
