IT’S TIME YOUR KIDS
GOT A DIGITAL DETOX
Toddlers picking up smartphones for mindless playing, youngsters
playing football, cricket or racquet games on their digital devices rather than
on real grounds and teenagers glued to their social media instead of going out
and socialising — the obsession with digital devices among youngsters is not
only rampant in Mumbai, but has also become a major cause for concern among
parents. They have, however, come up with innovative ways to bring back some
semblance of normalcy into the lives of their children.
Take the case of actor Vishal Malhotra, father of three-year-old
Vedika. He has come up with an app to get kids to go and play outdoors. He
says, “We parents must encourage our kids to get out of home and just be kids.”
However, there is a segment of parents that have no idea what to do if they
face a similar situation. Nivedita Venkat, mother of a four-year-old, says, “My
husband and I have 9-to-5 jobs, so we do not have the time to take our child
outdoors. There are also times when we just cannot find the right project or
activity.”
And it is for parents like these that Vishal’s idea comes as a boon. He
explains, “My app informs parents about outdoor activities that are available
for kids in their area. For instance, they can choose an activity class like
swimming for their child, which they can get free or with discounts. This will
guide parents to encourage t
Actor Vishal
Malhotra poses with kids at a playground in the city
Digital
detox is the need of the hour, say Mumbai parents
Vishal says,
“The real victims of busy schedules are the kids. While parents are too busy
creating a life for the life they created, the kids are pushed into the most
inconvenient convenience of the digital world.”
‘CHILDREN
SHOULD NOT BE KEPT AWAY FROM SPORTS’
Neeta Rane,
a parent, makes sure her 10-yearold daughter goes out to play every single day.
“There are times when she is not interested in stepping out and would rather
spend time watching cartoons on TV or playing video games. But I am very
particular that she goes down and plays with other building kids. That not only
helps in terms of fitness but also in making friends and becoming a more social
person.”
Jatin Paranjpe, former Ranji Trophy player, says, “Outdoor play is
definitely challenging, but keeping children away from sports is not a
solution. It should not even be an option. My wife and I have twins (a girl and
boy). When they were eight, we were stuck in a similar dilemma.” Since they
couldn’t find viable sports coaching for their kids, it strongly motivated
Jatin to build an app that helped parents choose the kind of sports activity
they wanted for their children. Jatin adds, “Sports not only keeps children
busy and active, but also teaches them important aspects of life in terms of
discipline and team spirit while encouraging a healthy and fit lifestyle,” he
says.
PLAYING WITH OTHER
KIDS IS ESSENTIAL, SAY DOCTORS
The prevalence of social media has minimised
genuine social communication. Doctors say that for wholesome psychological and
social development, children need to interact with other children of their age.
Dr Rajesh Parikh, a neuropsychiatrist says, “Playing with other kids at a young
age is of utmost importance because you learn some of the unwritten rules of
society when you interact with others. There are times when they put their own
needs behind the team, they can’t always get their own way, they have to help
others and accept help from others — there are many things that social
interaction teaches. All these help children immensely. When I see children not
playing, like we used to, I do feel worried.” He adds, “In a study done many
years ago, it was found that children who were deprived of social interaction
grew up to have a lot of problems. Social interaction is essential. The study
also found that the strongest predictor of good health and longevity is social
connectivity and the number of people we connect with personally.”
HOW TO DEAL WITH
DIGITAL ADDICTION
· Create awareness of the problem
·
Self-awareness is important
·
Parents need to monitor the amount of time
children spend on the internet
·
Find out if it is productive and adding to
their knowledge
·
People need to look at the quantity and
quality of time on the internet
·
Ensure kids have adequate human interaction
Source | Times of India | 23rd January 2018
Regards
Prof. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library &
Information Science (NET Qualified)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge
Repository
Khaitan & Co
Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978
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