Javed from Ludhiana, Punjab, is only 5 and half years old and till a few months ago, a thorough mobile phone addict. As soon as his father returned from work, Javed used to reach for his phone. "And he never gave me the phone back till the battery drained out and the phone was no use for him" said his father Akram. Javed's mother's phone was always at home but it used to be kept at a height so that Javed could not have access to it all the time.
"Over time, we found that his addiction was growing and his academics was suffering. His writing also slowed down and handwriting changed for the worse. We knew it was all because of the mobile," Akram added. Javed was hooked on to the mobile phone at the age of just 3 years.
More than anything else, the family noticed that little Javed had begun to throw tantrums if the mobile was not given to him. He also waited for guests to come home only to request for their mobiles. According to the father, the mobile was being used only to see cartoons. "He knew how to get to the browser and view cartoons," Akram added.
Finally, after more than a year of thought, Akram and his wife decided to stop using mobile phones at home. "We live close to the rest of the family so any emergency would always be looked after. For us, proper development of our child was more important," the father added.
Their sacrifice has worked. "Javed's handwriting is getting better every month and his temper tantrums have decreased. He still asked guests for phones but we allow just that much. My wife and I do not use mobile phones at home so our communication is sometimes an issue since I work out mostly but we manage, Akram says.
Akram is happy that Javed is also going back to playing with his friends. "We live in the village and there is lots of greenery and open space around. I never would like it that Javed missed the outdoors for a phone. Some years later, when I think he has matured enough, I will get him a phone but till then let him spend evenings playing in the fields amidst fresh air," he adds.
AN EYE-OPENER
Javed was only 3 when he got addicted to watching cartoons on his father’s mobile phone. When his parents refused to give him their phones, he started waiting for their guests to be able to ask for a phone. His parents had to completely stop using their phones. Two years later, fortunately, Javed is recovering and is in a much better state of mind than he was before
‘96% KIDS EXPOSED TO PHONES WHEN YOUNG’
The Department of Human Development, Nirmala Niketan College of Home Science, conducted a survey which showed up startling results:
Of 100 parents,
96% said their children were exposed to smartphones
50% said their children were exposed to tablets
78% said their children use the phone for entertainment
75% said their children use the phone for learning
28% said they expose their children to a touchscreen when they are bored
46% said their children are addicted to the phone
38% said their children throw a tantrum when the phone is not given
46% parents feel that a smartphone can help in academics
The survey was conducted by Ansari Sumayya, Lobo Maria, Sekhri Isha, Selia Susan and Sunelwala Rukaiya, under the guidance of Dr Kamini Rege, Assistant Professor there.
