On the mind of Karen Sabbagh
Imagine a childhood devoid of imagination, social interaction, creativity, learning, and vibrant colors. This is the perilous trajectory that modern technology’s infiltration into the world of parenting is steering us towards. Coined as “iPad Kids,” this term encapsulates a generation of children, some mere infants, being raised with an iPad as a virtual co-parent. A definition on Urban Dictionary, a surprisingly poignant source, succinctly captures this phenomenon: “Refers to toddlers and children who are obsessively attached to iPads or similar handheld digital devices, often given by parents primarily as a means of appeasing their child’s shorter attention span. As a consequence, valuable time that could have been spent on hands-on learning and the development of social skills is lost, replaced by hours watching often overstimulating or even inappropriate content on the internet, potentially hindering the child’s healthy
Socialization Challenges:
In the realm of “iPad Kids,” exceeding two hours of screen time poses a risk, as highlighted by psychotherapist Amy Morin, who asserts, “elementary school children who spend more than two hours on technical devices have a higher risk of developing emotional, social, and attention problems”. The captivating nature of screens can substitute face-to-face interactions, hindering the interpretation of social cues and complicating interpersonal relationships. Baked on a study conducted by Prof Reima Al-Jarf: Impact of the iPad on Saudi Young Children in the Home Environment as Perceived by Their Mothers “35% of the mothers mentioned some social problems associated with the use of the iPad such as children’s desire to be alone rather than
mingling and playing with others. They do not seem to be willing to participate and play with other children because they identify with the iPad. They stay away from the family and rarely talk or communicate with their parents or siblings. Some become aggressive if they play violent games on the iPad. Since some children are fully engaged in the iPad, they do not develop social skills.”
Tantrums and Behavioral Issues:
Research indicates a notable correlation between extended screen time and heightened tantrums and behavioral problems in children. As Dr. Douglas A. Gentile and his colleagues note, “the instant gratification from digital devices can foster a sense of entitlement, making it challenging for children to cope with delayed satisfaction scenarios”. My cousin has iPad kids. Her 10-year-old throws screaming tantrums when the iPad dies and doesn’t understand the concept of charging. It’s 100% bad parenting, because they have also failed in so many other aspects. She literally pulled them out of
school for 2 years to “homeschool” them because she “just can’t get them to school every day” (she works at said school). And didn’t do anything productive during those 2 years, except let them play on the iPads all day long. You can tell that there is a severe mental and social development delay caused by this.” This testament made by an anonymous reddit user shows the severe effects these hazardous gadgets have on our kids. Furthermore, the immersive nature of digital content contributes to self-regulation difficulties, with tantrums becoming a coping mechanism for frustration. The instant gratification over a long period of time affects their patience, they become used to instantly getting what they want as well as constant doses of dopamine from their screens, any real-life inconvenience or lack of dopamine will be unbearable to them, resulting in explosive tantrums. The constant dopamine from screens is highly addictive and has rough withdrawal periods, even as adults it’s difficult for us to go without our phones or our daily Instagram scroll, so imagine what this addiction could do to a barely developed brain.
Impaired Emotional Regulation:
The constant exposure to digital stimuli risks disrupting emotional regulation in “iPad Kids,” until babies develop language, all communication is non-verbal, so they depend heavily on looking at a face and deriving meaning from that face. Based on the JAMA Pediatrics study : “Longitudinal Associations Between Use of Mobile Devices for Calming and Emotional Reactivity and Executive Functioning in Children Aged 3 to 5 Years” calming kids down with a mobile device prevented them from gaining emotional regulation skills that they could apply on their own, “The findings of this study suggest
that the frequent use of mobile devices for calming young children may displace their opportunities for learning emotion-regulation strategies over time; therefore, pediatric health care professionals may wish to encourage alternate calming approaches”.
This disruption can lead to difficulties in understanding and managing emotions, resulting in mood swings and severely stunting the navigation of their emotional landscape. This technology is still relatively new. It’s still too soon to know for sure what kind of lifelong effects will be in place.
Communication Skills:
Screen-mediated communication may hinder effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills in “iPad Kids.” These children may struggle with basic communication elements, noting, “the immediacy and simplicity of digital interactions might take a backseat to the subtle nuances of face-to-face communication”-Ellen A. Wartella. This potential impediment underscores the importance of nurturing meaningful connections beyond the digital realm.
Here’s a checklist of symptoms of iPad addiction in children:
- Obsessive behavior: If a child is constantly thinking about using the iPad, talking about it, or eagerly awaiting their next opportunity to use it, it may be a sign of
- Loss of interest in other activities: Children addicted to iPads may lose interestin other activities they used to enjoy
- Neglecting responsibilities: When iPad use becomes excessive, children may neglect their responsibilities and obligations, such as completing homework, chores,or personal
- Intolerance: a child becomes irritable, restless, or moody when the iPad is takenaway or when they are unable to use
- Difficulty in controlling usage: If a child is unable to regulate their iPad usagedespite repeated attempts to cut down or stop, it suggests a lack of control andpotential
- Insomnia: Children addicted to iPads may sacrifice sleep to spend more time usingthe device
- Social withdrawal: Excessive iPad use can lead to social withdrawal, no moreinterest in face-to-face interactions with peers or family members
- Physical symptoms: eyestrain, headaches, and musculoskeletal
To conclude, I wrote this article to shed light on the stark realities of raising children in a digital-centric world. The phenomena of “iPad Kids” should be a call to parents, educators, and society to recognize the profound impact that excessive screen time and digital dependencycan have on children’s social, emotional, and cognitive
development. While technology can undoubtedly be an educational tool, it must be carefully moderated. Striking a balance between digital interaction and real-world experiences is crucial to nurturing well-rounded, emotionally stable, and socially adept individuals.