A Threat to Childhood: The Addiction to the Virtual World.
With every passing day, the technology and digital world around us are modifying themselves. And with this rapid modification is increasing the side-effects of the virtual world. It has become common to hear about online crimes today, right? If talking about the age group that is the most affected by these online crimes, then it has to be children. Kids these days get addicted to online social media sites, online games and take up dangerous steps as a result. But have you ever thought about why these steps are taken by innocent kids and how you can save the children around you from this terrible addiction? If you too are concerned about the same, then keep reading to get all the answers till the end of this article.
Why do Kids End up Taking Dangerous Steps?
Regarding the issue of increasing online crimes and accidents with children, we talked to Dr. Ishina Choudhary, Psychologist & Cognitive Behavior Therapist, to understand the reasons and precautions of it in a better way. Dr. Ishina states that one of the major reasons behind these crimes is a kid’s innocence and his disability to differentiate between virtual and reality. She explains that once kids get addicted to an online game or any kind of virtual world, they tend to believe in the virtual world and start living in their imagination. Due to the lack of this Reality Check, kids end up taking steps dangerous for their life or others.
The negative impact that the virtual world has on kids affects their mental growth and their relationships with people around them. Parents need to pay extra attention to their children’s activities online and should guide them regularly. The impact this virtual world has on kids affects their mental growth and their relationships with people around them. Parents need to pay extra attention to their children’s activities online and should guide them regularly. Only proper guidance and understanding can help a kid know right and wrong.
The Importance of Balance
The age of 5 to 15 in humans plays a crucial role in every person’s life. Dr. Ishina says that major brain development occurs at this age. Thus, everything that is fed to the brain in this age remains with a person for life and takes a lot of effort to change the mindset that has been developed at this time. So, it is very important to create a balance in a kid’s life during this stage.
The way, in which more and more sectors are easing with technology and are getting digitized, it is impossible to cut off the connection of kids with the virtual world. But what a guardian or a parent can do here is to create a balance between the kid’s virtual engagement and reality experience. Playing and engaging in new activities is important for a kid but kids should be motivated to play more offline games rather than online. Even if they play online, one should know what their kids are playing and with whom when on-screen. Screen time of kids should be managed efficiently which can only be done by parents or teachers. Moreover, kids should be given a reality check now and then to make them realize what the truth is and what’s not.
How do Parents Contribute to Kids’ Online Addiction?
If you are a parent, you might be surprised to hear this but yes, you do contribute a lot to your kid’s addiction to mobile and the virtual world. Today’s parents give their toddlers access to mobile phones with the thought of keeping them engaged for some time. This develops the habit in kids to have phones in their hands all the time. Parents need to understand that a small-time of screen engagement can become a terrible addiction in no time, that too without the realization of parents.
Another way in which parents contribute to the online addiction of kids is by their aggressive or neglecting behavior. Dr. Ishina states that parents often scold their kids and snatch away phones in a very rude way to decrease their screen time. But in fact, this aggressive behavior makes the child even more rebellious and they end up spending even more time on the screen. Parents should be polite with their kids if they want their kids to understand the issue.
Dr. Ishina suggests that parents nourish their kids just like they would grow a small seed into a plant. You would grow a plant with the utmost care- Give it sunlight and water on time, protect it from wind and hazardous elements, and keep it at the right spot. No one scolds a plant for growing a certain way, right? You instead provide it with the right care to make it grow the way you want. This is exactly how parenting should be done. Politeness, understanding, and building a bond of friendship are important to guide a kid in the right way. If you are a parent, you need to keep these things in mind for proper parenting.
Seek Professional Help When in Need
There have been numerous cases where the parents did realize their kid’s addiction but couldn’t save their kid or realized it too late. This happens because of two major reasons- Either the right help is not opted by the parents at the right time or parents neglect the hints of their kids’ addiction. Dr. Ishina suggests that if parents find their children in any kind of addiction, they should immediately try solving the issue or seek the help of professionals like psychologists, therapists, or doctors. So, if you find any kid around you addicted to the online world, then do find help or provide them guidance. Online addiction of kids can be decreased only when we adults are aware enough of kids.
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Article By: Kavery Parasher
