Electronic Gadgets Vs Traditional Toys

It is true that internet and rapid advancement in technology has completely replaced traditional toys. Earlier, children were gifted with variety of toys but now, we see them being gifted with a tab in their hands playing a game online. I was taken aback when a months baby was given a phone to comfort and not toys . What has caused this change? Is it because toys are expensive than your internet plan? Or that we don’t have the time to choose the right toys for our children?

When was the last time you comforted your crying child by reading out a story for them and not by engaging them with a phone or tab? This may calm your child for now, but have you ever realized what impact it will have on your child’s brain? If your child is constantly being exposed to the electronic gadgets, it later becomes very difficult to distance these from them. There were days when mothers and grandmothers sung songs and rhymes to children but these days alexa does the job with just one voice command.

Back then, children used to colour in colouring books and draw in drawing books but now, they do it on the phone with a smart pen in their hands. There used to be story books in the shelves but now we see all those books comprised into an electronic gadget 'kindle'. All these may entertain them, but more than that they cause harm .

.It has been proven that playing with wooden toys, puzzles, blocks, etc can enhance the language skills of a child rather than playing with electronic gadgets or toys . According to anna v. Sosa, ph.d., of northern arizona university; children vocalized less when played with electronic gadgets/toys rather than traditional toys. Also, it is proved that reading out a story to kids improves their listening and communication skills rather than hearing out a story from an electronic gadget. Research proves that if children grow accustomed to electronic toys their development will be hampered and there may be a long term negative effects on child development when their electronic toys prompt them to act a certain way stripping them of their desire to think for themselves

In today's world, where technology is advancing at a rapid rate it is becoming almost impossible to avoid any kind of electronic gadgets. But, knowing the destruction casued by these gadgets, we should try our level best to keep children away from using electronic toys and gadgets. Let children grow in a world where they are not told what to do but in a world where there is scope for exhibiting their creativity. As parents you are bound to give your children this freedom.