Jakarta, IO – The Alpha Generation, referring to children born in 2011-2025, came into a world already chock-a-block with internet technology and gadgetry. The benefits and harm of digital gadgets in raising children are like two sides of a coin: while nowadays such gadgets are a necessary part of daily living, excessive use of gadgetry among children will slow their growth, cause them to become addicted, and obstruct their social interaction and their emotional control. This will cause the child to easily have a tantrum.
“Let me remind you that providing digital gadgets to your children will not always result in a negative impact. If you know how to use them wisely and properly, these gadgets will be one of your most valuable educational tools, as children learn by repetition when young. The visuals and audio aspects of digital gadgets help them in some part of their development, such as learning a foreign language vocabulary, learning about parts of their bodies and the world. Naturally, you can’t just stick a gadget into your child’s hand and let them rip unsupervised. As an important element of their home and neighborhood, you as parents need to constantly monitor and stimulate their mental development, ”declared psychologist and co-founder of TigaGenerasi, Saskhya Aulia Prima, M.Psi., in the online media meet for the launch of the Huawei MatePad SE Kids Edition held last Friday (17/02/2023).
Digital gadgets are more than just fun electronic “toys”: they are highly useful as interactive learning media for children. On the other hand, we often note the alarming trend of parents giving gadgets to their babies and toddlers to watch, to baby-sit them, keeping them quiet and compliant. When is the right time to provide gadgets to children?