Research says kids exposed to gadgets are forgetting how to hold pens, pencils
It has been a long-held belief for millions that the art of writing, as in putting pen to paper, is a time-consuming and, perhaps, thought-provoking process. But in an age of technology, this complex assignment developed over centuries has got even tougher. If the latest research emanating from the United Kingdom is true, then touch-screen mobile phone addiction among children has reached such alarming levels that they are unable to hold pens/pencils properly anymore. Dr Sally Payne, Head Pediatric Therapist at the Heart of England Foundation NHS Trust, says that doctors have found that widespread use of touch screen devices including tablets/pads, lap tops and mobile phones have been affecting the development of bone and sinew among young children. So much so, that the consequences are no longer limited to adverse behavior, flagging mental ability or poor school performance but is impacting his/her physical strength — in the fingers, hands and wrists.
It is indeed the irony of ironies that while kindergartens are now populated by kids who have mastered the art of holding and using technological devices, they are losing the fundamental movement skills required to hold a pen, perchance putting it to paper. In fact, their lack of dexterity in holding a pen/pencil properly is, research has found, directly linked to a significant decrease in their physical activity. Today’s children spend more time indoors than outdoors and this has raised huge concern among educators and pediatricians about children’s physical skill development. It is also a widely accepted fact that there exists a correlation between outdoor activities and a child’s overall development, both physical and mental. When outdoors, kids have a gamut of opportunities to practically explore the world; to learn to balance and to figure out how to handle toys and tools. These are the basic building blocks that help develop cognitive and academic skills. Childhood also provides the best atmosphere to absorb skills and develop them by practice. As a matter of fact, motor development begins even before children join schools. They start learning very early, as toddlers, when they excel in picking up toys they are attracted to or learn to scribble on paper. This is where we have missed out.
Instead, our children are now being acclimatized as toddlers to gadgets that are the fruit of the all-pervasive technology which is the hallmark of our age. No wonder, then, that their engagement with technology is intense. But while the digital age has significantly transformed our lives, it must be accepted that it comes with occupational hazards. The most neglected feature among the many side-effects of over-exposure to gadgets is the fact that they keep our kids’ hands and fingers tied up in unprecedented ways. While it is impossible and inadvisable to prevent children from accessing gadgets, a balance is urgently needed. If we don’t find a golden mean, and soon, we must be prepared for new perils to emerge.
