It is important to guide children correctly in the use of smartphones, tablets and computers, which are an integral part of our lives. Prof. Dr. Hale A. Kahyaoğlu Çakmakcı stated that there may be some signs that the child has problematic technology use and said, “If there is a problem, the child becomes unable to stop the game after starting the game and starts to want to play even more.”
Prof. Dr. Hale A. Kahyaoğlu Çakmakcı from Istanbul Atlas University, Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, made evaluations on what families should pay attention to in children's use of technology.
Causes developmental delay in the early period
Emphasizing that they definitely do not recommend the use of screens in the early years of childhood, Çakmakcı said, “We experts do not recommend any form of technology use for the infancy period in the 0-2 age group. Phones and tablets given to children for purposes such as calming the child, saving time for the parent to get things done can lead to retardation in physical, cognitive, social and emotional development. The best thing to do during this period is the caregiver's emotional bond with the baby, conversations, taking the child outdoors and playing games together. With a 1 and a half year old child, activities such as laughing, tickling, touching or building structures with cubes will be an alternative to time spent with technology.”
Stating that the use of technology will differ according to age groups, Çakmakcı said that daily use should be limited to half an hour between the ages of 3-6, 45 minutes between the ages of 6-9, 1 hour between the ages of 10-15 and 2 hours in high school. Stating that the content is as important as the time the child spends in front of the phone, tablet and computer, Çakmakcı said, “The content that the child sees, watches, models and imitates is important. Children record everything they see and tend to do the same in the future. They learn very fast and put it into practice quickly. It is important to remember that the games you choose will try to be like the influencers you will show them.”
Advice is not enough, parents should set an example
Stating that the consistent approach of the family is important in limiting the use of technology, Çakmakcı said, “The harms can be explained to children in a language they can understand, but families should also apply what they recommend and set an example. A child is a modeling being. The explanation like 'You have homework so you can't use technology, I will allow you after you finish' unfortunately turns the source of the problem into 'homework'. An appropriate explanation should be made by paying attention to the message content.”
Attention if he/she is unable to stop the game and neglects his/her responsibilities
Stating that there may be some signs that the child has problematic technology use, Çakmakcı said, “If there is a problem, the child becomes unable to stop the game after starting the game and starts to experience the desire to play even more. Its use starts to fall below a certain time when it will reach saturation. The child does not do his/her homework in order to create time to play, and sometimes it progresses to such an extent that he/she starts to reduce his/her sleep time in order to play, and does not fulfill his/her personal care responsibilities such as washing and brushing his/her teeth. Eventually, they may become unable to go to school,” he warned and said that attention should be paid to behavioral changes.
Prohibitions and restrictions do not help the solution
Stating that it is not possible to solve problematic technology use with prohibitions and restrictions, Çakmakcı said, “First of all, it should not be forgotten that the family is a model for the child, and parents should be careful about the use of technology. Big reactions, serious punishments and prohibitions against the child's use of technology cause the situation to worsen and anger reactions to increase. Behaviors such as cutting off the internet or taking away the tablet can lead to deprivation and big fights may break out. In such cases, we recommend consulting a specialist. It is always important to remember that what children need most is to feel loved under all circumstances. It is very important to talk to the child about the importance of the situation and share your concerns, make decisions together, and ask him/her for his/her opinions.”
The underlying cause can be determined by a specialist
Stating that some psychological problems may lie behind the problematic use of technology, Çakmakcı said, “It will be determined by an expert's evaluation whether such behaviors seen in adolescents are caused by introversion, loneliness, disconnection in family ties, preference for virtual friendship instead of face-to-face relationships, or whether this young individual already uses technology problematically because he is introverted, low self-confidence, poor social skills, depressed or lonely.”
Prof. Dr. Hale A. Kahyaoğlu Çakmakcı warned that the unrestricted use of technology by younger children can lead to many developmental problems ranging from speech delay to autistic spectrum characteristics and said, “We can predict that the child who lacks stimuli will develop physical, mental and neurological problems.”
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