Childhood unplugged

Anirudh is only seven years old, but he has to make a big decision almost every other day. His parents have earmarked just 30 minutes of 'screen time', so he has to decide whether it will be Subway Surfers on the iPad or the gaming console with his dad. Anirudh is a glowing exception in urban India, where a growing number of children are developing a potentially perilous dependency on gadgets. As for adults, that's a topic for another day!
In 2010, Dr Richard Graham launched UK's first technology addiction programme. One of his patients, a four-year-old, spent four hours a day on a smartphone and reported signs of aggression if the device was taken from her. Products like babyproof gadget covers and iPottys are further proof that children spend the same, if not more time, with some gadgets than their parents. It's not just the home environment; quite a few Indian schools seem to be choosing tablets over conventional teaching aids in a bid to appear progressive.

Researchers at the Boston University School of Medicine revealed that there is enough research to prove children under 30 months can learn more from human interaction than television and videos.

As for newer electronic gadgets like smartphones and tablets, there's insufficient research, and that's the scary part. Tablets and smartphones have gradually become 'pacifiers' parents rely on to rein in kids – whether it's at a crowded restaurant or a long flight. It's tough to argue with them. These gadgets do seem to have a calming effect and allow parents to enjoy their dining experience a little less unhindered.

A study by global child education specialists The Michael Cohen Group last year confirmed what we already knew – touchscreen devices have overtaken traditional toys by a fair distance. It also revealed that at some level, kids (just like adults) too seek instant gratification. Why unpack and pack a board game when you can plug-and-play in a flash? The study also revealed that 36 per cent of kids in the households surveyed had their own gadgets, up from under 10 per cent in 2013.

Mumbai-based consulting psychiatrist Dr Nirmala Rao believes gadgets are no longer just pacifiers for kids, but a means for many Indian parents to keep their children in controlled environments. "Some parents are paranoid about children playing in the neighbourhood and worry about them getting dirt," she says. Clearly, they don't believe in the old Surf tagline 'Daag Achhe Hain'. Ironically, what they are doing is pushing their children into an environment where they have lesser control compared to the neighbourhood cricket ground.

While it's easy to fault parents, today's nuclear families have fewer support systems and a lack of standardised 'child-safe' practices at daycare centres in India don't help either.

Aarti C. Rajaratnam, a leading child psychologist and author, believes gadgets are seriously limiting multi-sensorial development during formative years. "There is no tactile component in touchscreen gadgets," she says. She is more concerned about the subconscious impact games have on children. "Many games tell kids it's cool to break rules and knock down people along the way. Gaming can also give kids a false sense of security. If you fail in one attempt, all you need to do is hit the reset button. You don't get that option offline."

Dr Nirmala Rao echoes similar concerns. "Gaming can give children a false sense of grandiosity, largely because you are always in control, getting an immediate response". Studies also reveal the negative impact on children's social skills, since they don't need companions while spending time on their devices. Double income households and work pressures have all meant that parents have to make an extra effort to reach out to their kids.

Rajaratnam believes that using tools like origami, kaleidoscopes and magnifying glasses can broaden the discovery process. Parents need to bring a sense of creativity to the parenting process and not use the fall back option. It's the same with schools that compensate for bad teachers with smart classrooms. Once parents help create multiple sensory learning experiences, kids like Anirudh might choose not to use up their stipulated gadget time with all the fun they can have offline.