The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics, instruct the parents to completely ban digital exposure to infants aged 0-2 years, allow not more than one hour per day to 3-5 years old kids, and not more than two hours per day 6-18 years old kids. The avalanche of handheld devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, and handheld video games, that have invaded the consumer market, have radically increased kids’ access to technology, and they use digital products for 4-5 times more than the recommended amount of time.
Why are associations, such as the AAP, are wary of children’s exposure to technology? When more and more educational institutions are inculcating digital practices in their teaching methods, shouldn’t the child be encouraged to use technology rather than be restricted to do so? In short, what is the impact of technology on kids? These are the questions this research aims to answer.
The technology, led by the internet, is shaping the way we see things and our process of thinking, in ways that are both advantageous and are detrimental. The effect is more pronounced in children. The problem here is technological development is happening at a rapid pace, and we are not equipped with the historical hindsight to know how these technologies will change the development process of kids. Technology is not just affecting the children on a superficial level, but research shows that it is wiring the brain in ways very different from previous generations.
Access to technology naturally contributes to increased time spent on technology related products by children. From helping them in their homework to inducing violent behaviors, technology is known to play different roles in a child’s life. So, every stakeholder in a child’s development, like parents, teachers, and policy makers are concerned about whether they have to allow the kids to have unchecked access to technology or restrict it. Our research aims to answer at least part of that question.
This research scrutinizes in detail, the effect, technology has on cognitive development and social skills of kids. Cognitive development is the progress made by the child with respect to his capacity to think, evaluate, and interpret, based on his experiences, knowledge, and insights. It’s what enables a kid to communicate, create, progress, and become cultured. It encompasses many aspects of a child’s growing up process like, examining, discovering, remembering, inquiring, judging, planning, deciding, and acting. Social skills, on the other hand, enable the kids, to interact with others in a way that elicits positive responses. It helps him form friendships and relationships and allow him to assimilate in the society around him.
The effects of technology on kids are complicated, with both benefits and drawbacks. Whether technology aids or hurts the cognitive development and social skills of children depend on what specific technology is used and how often it is used. At least early in their lives, the power to dictate the kids’ access to technology, and its influence on them rests with the parents or teachers, and they have to put in systems that would enable the kids to make good use of the tool of technology.
The research was done by collecting secondary data from existing databases and primary data through interviewing parents and teachers. The results obtained were recorded, codified and analyzed to interpret the information collected. The hypotheses formulated at the beginning of the study, were tested using the data obtained and the result would be presented in the form of a report.
