With the recent years of technological advancements, technology has been much more available for all ages. At this current point in time it is too soon to say whether technology has positive or negative consequences. One study says that children who used a vocabulary app on a smartphone or tablet increased the vocabulary of 13 five-year-old children by 27%. As can be seen, there are some beneficial aspects of having this type of accessibility. Other experts are even saying that children can enhance their hand-eye coordination along with problem solving abilities depending on how these technologies are used.
Conversely, it is the amount of time children spend in front of screens that have researchers worried. Everyone has heard of the saying "Everything in moderation," which is exactly what experts are trying to relay to concerned parents. To dig a bit deeper, video games are now being seriously recognized as highly addictive. At the end of 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) for the first time ever recognized "gaming disorder" in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). In doing so, the WHO joined the American Psychiatric Association (APA), which had previously added "internet gaming disorder" as a phenomenon worthy of more research in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) (Lopez, 2018).
The video provided below gives you insight into a rehab center that directly deals people who started playing videos games in their late teens and early 20s. The center is called reSTART and is entirely focused on living life with no electricity. All in all, no screens and no contact with the outside world. Keep in mind, the first stage of the 45 day program cost $25,000...
While this early research is not necessary conclusive, it brings a lot of questions and concerns what the long-term affects will be in terms of child development. Nonetheless, the study's do prove that monitoring the amount of usage is extremely important.
Questions
1. How much technology did you use when you were growing up? What about currently?
2. Based on the information, do you personally believe child access to technology is beneficial or detrimental to development?
3. What are your opinions on the reSTART rehab program?
Sources:
I personally feel as though technology can prevent the paste of a child's development. Growing up, I was constantly playing outdoors and just overall adventuring with my sister and cousin as we were all within a year of one another. I now look at my niece and nephew as they grow up. Technology has such a huge presence in their upbringing. I think my sister offers a healthy medium between more active entertainment versus technology entertainment. I too agree that it is too early to judge, but I do feel that kids are more nonverbal when technology is present.
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