I was having lunch at a restaurant on one fine Saturday afternoon.
As my eyes wandered around the premises, I noticed two families seated just a few tables away. One of them is Japanese; while the other table, seated closer to me was a Malaysian family.
What caught my eye, were the toddlers from these two tables. The toddlers had their eyes fixated on a tablet and a smartphone respectively while the parents chatted and dined.
The scenario speaks volumes about modern childhood. Children are growing to become what some called “the touchscreen generation”.
If you are attentive, you would have realised that this is a phenomenon commonly seen at home and in the public. Some of the readers may have had similar experiences when attempting to pacify a child — hand over an iPad to a screaming child has repeatedly proven to be effective in calming the child.
While running chores, many parents have resorted to the option of using tablets and smartphones to keep their children entertained. Some parents have also downloaded interactive apps specifically designed for toddlers and young children as a part of their learning and playing routine.
Come to think of it, is that not how we keep ourselves occupied since the invention and mass adoption of smartphones and tablets? Increasingly, we have even embraced the idea of building friendships and connections through apps!
Technology has evolved into an integral part of our lives day in and day out, that it may seem natural for some parents, to introduce technology to their child early on.
Rather than running around in imaginary superhero capes, or poking at broken tree branches in a park, more children are now accustomed to staring at a screen. The thing is, the world and human-to-human communication is much more complex than that.
Exposed to technology at a very young age, the way a child learn and experience the world would become too one-dimensional. While there may be educational apps out there that is formulated to stimulate the development of critical thinking at an early age, one can argue that without proper guidance, a child would risk becoming a passive receiver of new information.
For an all-rounded social and emotional development, children have to be in an environment that stimulates them learning through hands-on, face to face experiences with adults.
A smart device easily offers delightful experiences, as it has become possible to do many things at the swipe of a finger, to have hundreds of songs and games packed into a gadget the same size as, if not smaller than, a children’s storybook.
In a world where most of the internet-connected population are migrating a portion of their identity online, it makes me treasure offline connections even more.
When we start conditioning our children using gadgets and apps to shift their focus from the real world environment, we are gradually instilling in our children the belief that gadgets are more interesting than real world interactions.
Try to picture this scenario: the next time you initiate a conversation with your child, you will likely have less than 30 seconds of their undivided attention. Before you even realised, they have already unlocked the iPad and are halfway through a YouTube video.
There is no way to make up for the bond lost in a never-ending stream of apps.
Cherish Leow
Mon May 18 2015
![Modern-day childhood, smartphones and apps Modern-day childhood, smartphones and apps](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-05/81431683817_295x200.jpg)
Rather than running around in imaginary superhero capes, or poking at broken tree branches in a park, more children are now accustomed to staring at a screen. The thing is, the world and human-to-human communication is much more complex than that.
Mpox atau cacar monyet: WHO isytihar mpox kecemasan kesihatan awam global
Pertubuhan Kesihatan Sedunia (WHO) mengisytiharkan Monkeypox atau Mpox sebagai kecemasan kesihatan awam global, pada Rabu.
Parlimen Thailand pilih perdana menteri baharu Jumaat ini
Parlimen Thailand akan bersidang pada Jumaat ini bagi mengadakan mesyuarat khas memilih perdana menteri baharu susulan keputusan mahkamah yang menyingkirkan Srettha Thavisin pada Rabu/
![Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu esok Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu esok](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/71723695263_TBSretthaThavisin.jpg)
Parlimen Thailand pilih Perdana Menteri baharu esok
Parlimen Thailand akan bersidang pada Jumaat ini bagi mengadakan mesyuarat khas memilih perdana menteri baharu susulan keputusan mahkamah yang menyingkirkan Srettha Thavisin pada Rabu.
5 kematian akibat komplikasi denggi pada ME ke 31 dilaporkan
Jumlah kes demam denggi Pada Minggu Epidemiologi ke-31 tahun 2024 dilaporkan sebanyak 2,515 kes berbanding 2,609 kes pada minggu sebelumnya.
[TERKINI] Fahmi nafi arah Google nyahaktif ciri graf penukar ringgit
Menjawab tuduhan seorang pengguna X, Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai itu menerusi platform sama menegaskan beliau tidak pernah mengarahkan penyedia perkhidmatan itu berbuat demikian.
![Wanita dan kanak-kanak maut dalam nahas kereta, MPV di Kuala Kangsar Wanita dan kanak-kanak maut dalam nahas kereta, MPV di Kuala Kangsar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723694795_KemalanganMaut.jpg)
Wanita dan kanak-kanak maut dalam nahas kereta, MPV di Kuala Kangsar
Dua maut selepas kereta dinaiki terlibat dalam kemalangan dengan sebuah MPV jenis Toyota Velfire di Jalan Kuala Kangsar-Manong.
[TERKINI] Bapa terima baik kehilangan Nidza Afham
Mokhtar Mahmud, bapa kepada penyanyi Muhammad Nidza Afham redha dengan pemergian Allahyarham yang disahkan meninggal dunia selepas jasadnya ditemui terapung di jambatan Sungai Klang pada petang Rabu.
Pantau Belanjawan: Kelestarian: Memperkukuh ekosistem ekonomi hijau
Pengarah Urusan Gading Kencana, Datuk Ir Guntor Tobeng mengulas berkenaan usaha Malaysia memperkukuh ekosistem ekonomi hijau, di sebalik cabaran global serta peluang masa hadapan.
[TERKINI] Belasungkawa: Nidza Afham dikebumikan di Puncak Alam
Jenazah penyanyi Nidza Afham Mokhtar, 23, yang ditemukan meninggal dunia di Sungai Klang, akan dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam, Puncak Alam, Selangor, pada Khamis.
![EON Berhad mahu dikenali sebagai penyedia perkhidmatan automotif menyeluruh EON Berhad mahu dikenali sebagai penyedia perkhidmatan automotif menyeluruh](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723694796_EON.jpg)
EON Berhad mahu dikenali sebagai penyedia perkhidmatan automotif menyeluruh
EON Berhad sedang memposisikan diri sebagai lebih daripada sekadar penyedia kereta, dengan berkembang menjadi penyedia perkhidmatan kereta secara menyeluruh.
![beIN SPORTS CONNECT, iQIYI & TVBAnywhereplus Apps kini di Astro Ultra Box beIN SPORTS CONNECT, iQIYI & TVBAnywhereplus Apps kini di Astro Ultra Box](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-09/51663844960_ultrabox.jpg)
beIN SPORTS CONNECT, iQIYI & TVBAnywhereplus Apps kini di Astro Ultra Box
Pelanggan kini boleh menstrim lebih banyak acara sukan global secara siaran langsung termasuk hiburan Asia kegemaran mereka.
![Tinder tidak mahu dikenali sebagai aplikasi cari teman untuk buat maksiat Tinder tidak mahu dikenali sebagai aplikasi cari teman untuk buat maksiat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-01/81451628560_Couple.jpg)
Tinder tidak mahu dikenali sebagai aplikasi cari teman untuk buat maksiat
Demi menarik pengguna Asia, syarikat yang mengendali aplikasi Tinder ambil langkah untuk ubah reputasinya sebagai aplikasi untuk membuat maksiat.
![Tatu tu edit pakai apps lah! - Atilia Tatu tu edit pakai apps lah! - Atilia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2018-03/61520071689_atiliaharon.jpg)
"Tatu tu edit pakai apps lah!" - Atilia
Jika dilihat secara teliti, anda akan tahu bahawa "tatu" Atilia di bahagian badannyan adalah palsu.