Children, YouTube and Momo

A six-year-old girl is watching a “Peppa Pig” video on her cell phone when it is suddenly interrupted by the creepy suicide-game character Momo, which frightens her, and alarms her mother when she shows her.

Mom responds by removing the YouTube app from the child’s phone and tablet.

OK, so Mom has solved the immediate problem. But why does this young child have a phone? Or a tablet? I understand that these tiny portable babysitters are extremely convenient for busy parents who want to keep kids out of their hair, but this whole technology thing is getting out of control.

Parents have been parking their kids in front of the television for about 70 years now, but children’s television shows were vetted and usually safe for children’s consumption. (Not that I’m saying it’s good to use the television as a babysitter, but I’m being realistic here.) Now people are giving free rein to kids to watch anything posted by anyone.

This is going to sound really old-fashioned, but my question is, why don’t today’s parents say:

“Go read a book.”

“Go play with your toys.”

“Go play in the yard.”

instead of giving them phones and tablets? Books and toys are certainly safer, and far more educational.

Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up Using Smartphones

When my children were young, and I was very busy taking care of them, and the house, and homeschooling some of them, if someone would have handed me a device that would have stopped them in their tracks and kept them occupied for hours so that I could get everything done on that very long list of things to do that I always had….I probably would have given them each a device.

So I understand why today’s children (including some of my grandchildren) are spending time on smartphones. But we’re seeing more and more evidence that smartphones are a very bad idea for children. They keep them from playing, which is how they learn. They keep them from using their imaginations, which is not a good thing. And now a recent study shows that children who use smartphones spend twice as long using them as talking to their parents.

This is logical, and alarming. The parent-child relationship must supersede all else in a young child’s life. This is how they learn the most important things they need to know: from their parents. Anything that interrupts that relationship needs to go.

It will be hard. I totally understand. Even though I haven’t raised a young child in decades, I remember what it’s like. But it’s time to admit that children should not be allowed to do anything with smartphones. These devices are too addicting, and they take children away from far more important things, like conversing with their parents.

Too Much Socialization

It looks like parents’ and teachers’ overemphasis on the socialization of children of recent years has finally borne some pretty ugly fruit. Yet another study has shown that there’s been a precipitous drop in teens’ happiness and mental health since 2012, and it’s being linked to the use of smartphones, and specifically social media.

This is no surprise. Yes, kids need time with their friends, whether in person or virtual, but they also need time without friends so that they can mentally regroup and enjoy downtime, even quiet time. This may be more crucial for introverts than extroverts, but all kids need time to be alone and to think. The smartphone has taken that away, and we’re just now seeing the cost. One has to wonder where it will all lead.

Scaring Kids in the Name of PC

My younger kids enjoyed watching “The Magic School Bus” on PBS years ago. I didn’t mind because it was mostly educational. But today’s version apparently includes scaring kids by telling them that a monster will get them if they don’t live the green lifestyle. Propaganda is alive and well in children’s programming. What a shame!