Gadgets and Children: Parental Challenges in The Digital Era

The rapid advancement of technology has made gadgets an inseparable part of daily life. Not only adults but even preschool-aged children are now familiar with various digital devices such as smartphones and tablets. Although gadget usage can offer educational benefits, unrestricted and unsupervised use may pose risks of addiction and hinder children’s social-emotional development.

The Role of Gadgets in Children’s Lives

According to a study by Anggi Rizky A.S. and Melly Latifah (2019), gadget use among preschool children has increased alongside technological advancements. Children engage in various activities using gadgets, such as watching videos, playing games, and learning through educational apps. The study found that most preschool children use gadgets for more than one hour daily.

On the positive side, gadgets can serve as effective educational tools if used appropriately. Digital apps and content designed for children can help improve their cognitive and motor skills. However, excessive gadget use without parental supervision can have negative effects, such as gadget dependency and reduced social interaction with their surroundings.

Risks of Gadget Addiction in Children

Gadget addiction among children is a serious issue that requires special attention. Research by Hanifia Zahra Sakina and Melly Latifah (2019) indicates that the attachment between mothers and children, as well as parental control over gadget use, plays a significant role in reducing gadget addiction levels in preschool children. The study revealed that the stronger the mother-child bond, the lower the risk of gadget addiction.

Children addicted to gadgets tend to exhibit behaviors such as difficulty detaching from gadgets, becoming easily irritable when gadget use is limited, and neglecting other beneficial activities. These findings are consistent with those of Mira Rahmawati and Melly Latifah (2020), who noted that gadget addiction can hinder children’s social-emotional development. Children who frequently use gadgets are likely to have lower social interaction skills compared to those whose gadget use is limited.

The Role of Parents in Addressing Digital Challenges

Parents play a crucial role in managing children’s gadget use. A parenting style based on acceptance has been proven effective in reducing the risk of social media and gadget addiction in teenagers. A study by Himmatul Aliyah and Melly Latifah (2019) demonstrated that a parenting style characterized by affection and emotional support can reduce the tendency of teenagers to become addicted to social media.

A similar approach can be applied to preschool children to mitigate the risk of gadget addiction. Parents need to increase direct interaction with their children through activities involving two-way communication, such as playing together, reading books, and exercising. Research by Hanifia Zahra Sakina and Melly Latifah (2019) also highlights the importance of parental control over gadget use, such as limiting usage duration and monitoring accessible content.

Additionally, parents should explain the rules regarding gadget use and the reasons behind those rules. This helps children understand the importance of limiting gadget use and makes them more likely to comply with established guidelines.

Positive Impact of Parental Supervision

Effective parental supervision not only reduces the risk of gadget addiction but also enhances children’s social-emotional development. A study by Mira Rahmawati and Melly Latifah (2019) found that children whose gadget use is closely monitored by parents tend to have better social-emotional skills.

Children who are invited to discuss the content they access and participate in family activities show improvements in communication skills, empathy, and self-control. This demonstrates that active parental involvement in guiding gadget use is beneficial not only in reducing addiction risks but also in fostering positive character development in children.

Recommendations for Parents

Based on various studies, here are some practical recommendations for parents in dealing with the challenges of children’s gadget use:

1. Limit gadget usage duration: The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that preschool-aged children should not use gadgets for more than one hour per day. Parents need to establish a consistent schedule for gadget use appropriate for the child’s age.
2. Choose age-appropriate content: Ensure that children only access content suitable for their age. Use apps and platforms with parental control features.
3. Engage children in non-digital activities: Encourage children to participate in various activities that involve direct interaction, such as outdoor play, crafting, or reading books together.
4. Enhance family interaction quality: Spend quality time communicating with children without gadget distractions. This is crucial for building emotional closeness between parents and children.
5. Be a good role model: Children tend to imitate their parents’ behavior. Therefore, parents should demonstrate wise gadget use, such as not frequently using phones when spending time with their children.

Conclusion

Children’s use of gadgets is an inevitable phenomenon in today’s digital era. Although gadgets can provide benefits when used wisely, excessive and unsupervised usage can lead to negative impacts, such as addiction and social-emotional development issues.

Parents have a key role in addressing this challenge. By enhancing interaction quality, limiting usage duration, and supervising the content children access, the risk of gadget addiction can be minimized. Moreover, a parenting style characterized by affection and emotional support has been proven effective in fostering positive character development in children.

Through these measures, children are expected to grow and develop optimally amidst the growing digitalization trend. Parents must continuously learn and adapt to effectively support their children in facing the challenges of the digital era.

By: Melly Latifah
Division of Child Development
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences (IKK), FEMA, IPB University

References

1. Aliyah, H. & Latifah, M. (2019). Parenting Style of Acceptance Reduces Adolescent Addiction to Social Media. Proceedings of the 2nd International Seminar on Family and Consumer Issues in Asia Pacific.
2. Anggi Rizky, A. S. & Latifah, M. (2019). Gadget Usage of Children, Mother-Child Interaction, and Social-Emotion Development of Preschool Children. Proceedings of the 2nd International Seminar on Family and Consumer Issues in Asia Pacific.
3. Rahmawati, M. & Latifah, M. (2019). The Effect of Mother-Child Interaction and Maternal Gadget Use on Child’s Gadget Addiction in Preschool Children. Proceedings of the 2nd International Seminar on Family and Consumer Issues in Asia Pacific.
4. Rahmawati, M. & Latifah, M. (2020). Gadget Use, Mother-Child Interaction, and Social-Emotional Development of Preschool Children. Journal of Family and Consumer Sciences, 13(1), 75-86.
5. Sakina, H. Z. & Latifah, M. (2019). The Influence of Mother-Child Attachment and Parental Control on Gadget Use of Children toward Gadget’s Addictive Level on Children. Proceedings of the 2nd International Seminar on Family and Consumer Issues in Asia Pacific.