With today's digital technology, parenting has never been more challenging. Many modern mums encourage their children to play with smartphones and then give them a big hand when their two-year-old, who cannot yet walk, is able to slide the screen to unlock. Other adults are thrilled to see their toddlers sing along to cartoon theme songs on YouTube even though they have, thus far, been unable to utter "mum" or "dad".
Children who master technology at a very young age are usually applauded, but is this necessarily a good sign when it comes to language and interpersonal skills?
According to developmental and behavioural paediatrician Dr Kakanang Jantarapagdee, digital devices are an indispensable part of modern life, so much so that parents are making them a part of children's lives too.
"There are, of course, both good and bad things about digital devices, be they smartphones, tablets, or other digital tools like televisions. But, without a doubt, these gadgets must be used in moderation especially if used as part of modern-day parenting," commented Dr Kakanang.
That parents are a child's best playmate is still a rule of thumb when it comes to boosting the development of young ones. But with more hectic lifestyles, a lot of modern parents often find it too time-consuming and demanding to take time to act like their child's buddy. This invariably prompts parents into finding alternatives to bring enjoyment to their little ones.
A scenario that is seen all too often, across all sections of society, according to Dr Kakanang.
"The excessive use of digital devices among small children happens in all types of families — from the rich, the middle-class to the working class," said the specialist. "In well-to-do and middle-class families, for instance, they might let their child play with a smartphone to keep them still for a few hours while they eat out as a family in a fine restaurant. For the impoverished, they might allow their child to watch television by themselves while they do household chores or prepare dinner after work. Coupled with an inefficiency in child rearing, this can bring about problems in terms of child language and life skill development."
Children should be introduced to technology at the right age which actually varies according to each family's culture. But speaking from a medical point of view, Dr Kakanang believed that ideally children should only be allowed to play with technology when they are at least two years old.
"Small children in their first and second year of their lives learn things through interacting with other people," she noted. "Imitation is the most powerful form of learning for children at this age. In order for small kids to know how to pronounce, they have to look at a person's face and lips. They need to listen to a certain word repeatedly before being able to imitate the pronunciation.
"It is paramount at this early age that parents speak to them in short words — preferably one or two syllables — so that they are able to follow. All this cannot be done by digital devices. What kids see from the screen are just images and sounds. With this, children are not able to imitate pronunciation, resulting in speech delay."
"Children below two years old also learn by playing with people and with certain toys," she added. "They learn by listening to adults reading fairy tales to them. If parents allow them to spend too much time with technology, they might miss opportunities to develop social and language skills. But whenever they are old enough to speak, to control themselves as well as to understand simple rules and orders, then parents can gradually introduce children to these gadgets as part of developmental learning tools."
Excessive use of digital devices among small kids does not just lead to speech delay, however, it can also bring about slow development in terms of social skills.
"Some children are so obsessed with watching content on digital devices that they do not communicate with others. Children who use the computer too much or watch too much TV might not know how to mingle or interact with friends. They might be able to imitate what characters say in the cartoons but they will not understand the meaning of it. If the condition becomes so severe that they are not speaking to others or speaking only to themselves, they will probably need to visit a doctor," said the child behavioural specialist, adding that if the problem was left unattended, then this might also affect the development of the child's IQ.
Small children should not be left playing with digital devices continuously for 15 to 30 minutes, the doctor suggested. Older kids such as those in primary school should only be allowed to use digital devices for no more than one hour a day. For teens, two hours should be set as a daily maximum "technology time".
But of course, digital equipment is not totally bad. According to the child developmental specialist, smartphones, tablets and televisions can also bring benefits, but only if they are used and managed appropriately.
"Technology can also be a good parenting tool if parents use it right," the doctor advised. "Apps and online lessons can help teach children in subjects that parents are not knowledgeable in, such as second languages, foreign countries and so forth. But when using technology for parenting, bear in mind that too much of it is not good. Encourage kids to do other activities that develop other skills and use technology when appropriate. Also set certain family rules as to when and how much time they are allowed to play with devices. That's the best way to go."
