Giving smartphones to kids? Think twice!

As a Paediatrician I often find parents coming with their kids aged between 3-5 years having a problem with conversation, lack of concentration, social relationship, sleep disturbances, irritable, not interested in outdoor games, books or teachers, etc. On query, parents inform that there was no problem with pregnancy, delivery and after delivery. All parameters were OK but recently they noticed the problem as mentioned earlier.

Unfortunately we all are running after technology without knowing its short term and long term side effects. Well, dear readers, it is true in almost every family. Smartphone is a smart device beyond doubt and it is very helpful as well, but its excessive use can produce sometimes irreversible damage to our kids.

Smartphones, TV, tabs, computers are essential commodities now a days. We are accustomed to use them and unfortunately we cannot think to pass a single day without using them. Children learn mostly from their parents' activities, they keenly observes what their parents are doing. They follow them and try to do the same, considering that this is perhaps the ideal activities, otherwise dad or mom would not do that.

Smartphones need to be handled smartly, purposefully and when required, but it does not mean that you have to use it hours together or very frequently. If you go on doing that, you will be addicted. Similar things may happen to our beloved kids as well. Language delay, lack of concentration, problems in conversation, decrease in sleep, poor outcome in schools, poor appetite, decrease cognitive functions all has got some association with over use of smartphones, TV, computers, tabs.

Please don't use smartphones at home for a longer time in presence of kids and don't allow them to use the above devices regularly until they are 15 years or above. Offering smartphones to kids at the age of two years to keep them busy and quiet is very injudicious and may be very harmful. They become soon addicted to it and glued their eyes on screen all the time. And finally there will be delay in development of language, social relationship; they may become introvert, with decrease sleep, poor appetite, lack of concentration etc.

My humble request to all the parents - please don't offer smartphones, tabs etc. to your kids and my another request to parents, please refrain yourselves from using these devices longer time in front of your kids.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron has addressed the issue on a nation-wide scale. Macron has banned smartphones and tablets from all schools. The phone ban will apply to all pupils in France up to the age of 15.

I do also prefer to have such decision in our country as well, otherwise we will not get the expected productive outcome from our kids. Wishing all our kids  happy and healthy.

The author is a Professor of Paediatrics at Community Based Medical College, Mymensingh. E-mail: mmukkhan@gmail.com