Neurology Specialist Prof. Dr. Derya Uludüz gave important advice to families. With the epidemic process, the exposure of children to technological devices has increased more, as well as adults. Apart from online education, children started to spend time with the phone and the computer, as they could not find the opportunity to go out and socialize. Stating that this situation can cause a wide variety of health problems in the short and long term, Neurology Specialist Prof. Dr. Derya Uludüz explained these problems and ways to protect children from technology addiction as follows:
1- BRAIN DEVELOPMENTS ARE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED
The worst part of screen addiction is that it affects the development of children by changing their brain structure. Overuse of technology disrupts the connections between different parts of the brain; The 'prefrontal area' that controls personality, impulses, rules and social behavior is suppressed, making information difficult to process in the brain. This triggers social anxiety in children.
2 – THEY CANNOT DISTINCT THE VIRTUAL AND THE REALITY
When we were children, the toys we wanted so much were not bought, everything we wanted was not made. This traditional way of raising children has taught us to deal with emotions such as sadness, anger, and disappointment. Nowadays, children who constantly play games on their phones have difficulty in distinguishing between virtual and reality. Achieving everything he wants in the game, the child wants to quickly reach what he wants in real life. When faced with real life, he immediately becomes demoralized, angry and impatient.
3 – THEY ARE DISTRIBUTED AND OVER MOVED
We have come from the years when we didn't know what attention deficit and hyperactivity was, to the years when all children were diagnosed with attention deficit and hyperactivity. It has been supported by research that these problems are triggered by technological devices and exposure to excessive visual and color stimulants.
4 – THEY HAVE BACK AND BACK PAIN
Complaints such as back, waist and neck pain caused by posture disorders while spending time with technology are now at a young age.
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
The child may be trying to meet their need for love, attention and value through social media. If this is the case, you are not spending enough time with them. First of all, try to have a better time with them, to understand the conversation. Guide them to reading, sports, music and dance. Find common activities that you can do together because crowded games teach children to relate and communicate. The child should not be exposed to the screen in any way until the age of 2. After the age of 2, you can let the child watch, for example, one or two cartoons for no more than 1 hour a day.
