Raise children not robots

Imagine if you were to talk to your child and he replied in a toneless voice that rumbled from deep within his stomach and, instead of making eye contact, gazes at an unseen spot beyond you.

Some people are already saying that there will come that time, that forecast time when the bags of steel and knots would clang about in our homes and offices, that time in the not-so-distant future when they will be taking our orders in the restaurants, that comes that era that technological prophets are glorifying, that they speak of no robots at all but the coming generation of Homo Sapiens.

This school of thought claims that the movers and shakers of that future might not be boxes of steel programmed to do the work of human beings, but real people with head full of hair instead of head made of iron. The thinking of these people is that the same technological leap forward which has made robots capable might also be the one to turn human beings into robots- human beings who, although have breath, flesh and bones and blood coursing through the veins, but who nonetheless might lack the warmth that make people, real people unique.

And the technology is in the form of gadgets like television, Apps and smartphones which advancements includes the interest of the young ones. Definitely the very young ones gain from these things which make the next generation ever smarter than their forebears.

And which parent would want her child to be backward technologically? Perish the thought. Not so long ago, I winced as I watched two teenage girls compared their Apps. I called them WAEC veterans; they had repeated the secondary school leaving exams severally and were scheduled to do it again-they were determined that it was the last time the examining body would come across their names again- they were resolved to go to the hall with their gadgets. That is a big advantage; but in the 90’s however, mathematical wizards counted off their fingers or rack their brains or literally plucked their answers from mid air– a slow method in a not-so-fast world anyway.

And there is the television which gives us information and entertainment – they have packages for young ones too. You cannot stop them hugging the screen. But before you embrace them, think of the impact of the time your child spends watching or playing with a gadget. They may be fascinating and full of information, but they cannot replace those early teachings which life’s experiences can equip them with. And even the positive aspect of life he sees on a screen, he may not be able to practice without guidance, which may be a setback in the development and relationship of the very young.

The American Pediatric Association says that children under two years of age should not be exposed to any form of gadget. No surprise there, watch your baby who manages to sit on your lap at last. Take note how he reacts when you try to distract him by pointing at the TV screen. He may be fascinated by the flashing light, but he is not really watching. The moving figures may make him wonder but he does not know what is happening.

The research finding is that before he is two, he gains nothing, he does not understand what they are telling him. At this stage, he needs the full attention to help him develop problem-solving skills and learn how to entertain himself. However, there are advantages for children who are ages three and above as they learn to count, identify sounds and develop good language skills, proponents to the screen say. For example, children who are between the ages of three to five can retell stories without losing patience. Exposure to virtual books with animation and games make reading fun. But phonetics may be confusing to children who do not understand that words are made of individual sounds however.

Yet exposure to educational gadgets may help prepare them for school as those who have been exposed to computers scored 40 per cent higher on school readiness tests at the Wayne State University, Athens, Ohio, United States. And when the same children started school, they did better on cognitive tests such as grouping of objects.

They learn to be creative. They can erase what they did not like and begin afresh when they draw on a computer.From age six to 10, they can think logically and can sympathize with others because games that involve role and responsibilities help them to develop good social skills. They exhibit sharper memory because it takes concentration to play video games.

They have an understanding of team-work and community. Some games teach children to work together with others. They learn about the world and to know other interests.

From ages 10 to 12, they have mastered their reading and able to understand the different meanings in words, when used differently.Some games act as relationship tools with characters made to experience emotions as human beings; children learn to understand their feelings through what they see.

Through some games, they have a grasp of science and history. Many are based on facts, so a child can learn about other countries. If your child becomes interested, expand his knowledge by introducing books on the topic instead.

Television remains the closest to many families, but there are disadvantages because of damage to the health of young children:
Sleep Disorders

Light from the screen suppresses the production of melatonin, the hormone that forms sleep pattern in a human being. The disturbance in the secretion causes lack of sleep, so the child stays awake to watch more TV, which causes further suppression so that sleeping habit is disrupted.

Growth Retardation
Growth hormone is produced in sleep and during vigorous exercise. A child who is deprived of sleep or not taking enough exercise because he is hooked to the screen would not grow well because less hormone is released.

Poor Concentration
Children who are addicted to the screen cannot pay attention because brain cells that control the ability to listen for long time to outside influences have been reduced in TV addicts especially. Such children are nervous, excitable and cannot make friends easily. Children who are hooked to the TV at a very young age have been seen to have difficulties in reading.

Poor Immune System
Changes in the skin cells have been traced to the emission of the TV. These changes, it is believed increases the chances of the DNA mutations.

Short Sightedness
Staring at the screen for long hours can cause damage.Young children need to play real games, not watch them on the screen. They need to discuss with another human being and put to practice what they see around them.

They should play football, make clothes for dolls. Children are curious to learn real life experiences: they want to cook; they want to try their hands at baking. They want to draw with real pencils. If they have not shown interest, it is likely that they have not been exposed to the fun way of developing their talents. What they see on the screen should be put into practice otherwise their expertise on a gadget is wasted.

What the growing child needs is time spent with his family. A time that should be spent talking, reading and playing. But sometimes if the family is together, the time would be spent watching TV.

You can move with the times and children can enjoy the time spent playing with his gadget or watching television. But create time for the family apart. Switch off TV as you eat together. Make a rule that they should not watch TV one hour before bedtime as it makes sleep difficult.