"If Monday had a face, I would punch it”
that’s the expression of a little boy coming
into school campus when the school reopens after weekends. I was sweetly
puzzled and rather taken aback by the hard and honest fact of youngsters about
the work. They all look for a short or longer vacation.
As I write this message to you, we are
already at the close of the current academic year and entering into a six week long vacation. Don Bosco used to say
that holiday is nothing but a change of occupation or ambience or atmosphere.
For us, the learning never stops. Though we may end the academic year yet our
learning never stops but it continues in a new atmosphere, what we call vacation.
As parents, you might think of different
camps for your kids to continue the learning from school. In continuation of
this thought, I would like to bring to your attention what Japan has planned
this year for their school kids. I’m quoting the article from Telegraph for
your perusal:
More
than 500,000 Japanese children between the ages of 12 and 18 are believed to be
addicted to the internet, the ministry of education here says.
"We
want to get them out of the virtual world and to encourage them to have real
communication with other children and adults,"
The ministry is proposing to hold "Internet fasting"
camps at outdoor learning centres and other public facilities where children
will have no access to the Internet.
The youngsters will be encouraged to take part in outdoor
activities, team sports and games, with psychiatrists and clinical
psychotherapists on hand to provide counseling.
When
I read this article, I felt as though I was reading some science fiction. But its
happening right now in this world where children got caught in the web of
technological advancement. They get glued to the screens of Digital gadgets. As
parents and educators, its our prerogative to put our children through the Digital Detox process. (We are not very
far from Japan)
How can we go about doing this?
Screen Time.
That’s the solution. Screen time is the
time you spend watching TV or DVDs, using computers, playing video or hand-held
computer games, or using tablets or smartphones.
Screen time can be:
- interactive – for example,
playing video games, communicating via Skype, or using online tools to
draw pictures
- not interactive – for
example, sitting still and watching movies, TV programs or YouTube videos
- educational – for example,
doing maths homework online
- recreational – for example,
playing games or watching videos for fun.
(Unfortunately non interactive and
recreational takes the majority)
Looking at a screen intensely can cause
sore, irritated and dry eyes, headaches, fatigue, make your child’s neck and
spine uncomfortable. Being inactive for long periods using a screen can lead to
a less active lifestyle, which could lead to obesity.
Too much screen time can have an impact
on children’s language development, social skills, ability to have
conversations, maintain eye contact, pay attention in school or read body
language.
Children can copy or be influenced by
negative behavior (PUBG, MOMO, BLUE WHALE), stereotypical representations of
gender, violent imagery or coarse language they see in advertising and other
media.
Child development experts
recommend limiting children’s daily screen time for your child’s
wellbeing, learning and development.
As Parents, children
should have consistent limits on the time they spend on electronic media and
the types of media they use.
2.
Screen time
limits are about making sure your child enjoys lots of healthy, fun activities
– both with and without screens.
3.
Limits mean looking at the time your child spends on screens
and making sure it doesn’t get in the way of sleep and activities that are good
for her development.
4.
Developmental activities include things like physical play,
reading, creative play like drawing, and social time with family and friends.
Whatever is
beautiful
Whatever is
meaningful
Whatever brings you
happiness
May it be yours
this holiday season and
throughout the coming year.
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