By The Editor
Science and technology have made people’s lives and works much easier and comfortable to the extent that they have become lethargic and easy-going. Latest electronic devices like computers, televisions (TVs) and smartphones, which are becoming cheaper and are easily available, have further made usual tasks done at lesser time and consequently reduce mental exercise. Problem nowadays is that people are depending too much on these man-made machineries as a result of which their brains become greatly unutilised and thus in the long run affecting their health not to mention about tending to be obese. Joey Adams said, “If it weren’t for the fact that the TV set and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn’t get any exercise at all”, which sounds really sarcastic and hence caution to present generation especially children and young kids. Sitting on the couch and fiddling with these gadgets for hours will affect the eyes and make them lazy. Children gradually become loners who do not communicate with others.
New study by Japanese researchers at Osaka University, Japan indicates that spending more time staring at the TV screen be it a tablet, phone, or computer at age 2 is associated with bad eyesight, poorer communication and daily living skills by the time they reach age 4. But when kids also spend time in playing outdoors especially with their friends some of the negative effects of screen time are reduced. Research was undertaken in view of complaints received from parents and teachers particularly due to recent Covid-19 lockdowns since kids spent more time indoors and in watching or using these gadgets and less outdoor time. Now that Covid-19 is more or less under control, kids are encouraged to spend enough time in playing outdoor which is really important for appropriate neurodevelopment. According to findings by researchers, socialisation was better in children who had spent more time playing outside than those who confined themselves inside their homes. Quite number of parents and guardians try to please their children and wards from crying or restlessness by giving them smartphones to play with which is very harmful and therefore to avoid from extending such kinds of indulgences.
World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends that 2-year-olds should not be exposed to sedentary screen time which is defined as activities such as watching TV and playing computer games for more than one hour a day. Author Kenji J. Tsuchiya, Professor at Osaka University, strictly warned parents about neurodevelopmental outcomes regarding children and young kids who spend much screen time. Even elderly persons and professionals are to take care by not spending too much time on screens which they should take rest at regular intervals.