Technology limits socialization skills in children
By Kassandra
@Lasckos2 (159)
United States
January 16, 2017 8:20pm CST
As a kindergarten teacher, I have seen some sad things where you can tell which children are sat in front of a tv or iPad all day. I have students who LACK complete socialization skills to the point when they need help they grunt. The sad part is, it is not that they can't speak, they don't know how to communicate properly with another human being. Technology should be treated as a luxury or tool/resource. It is not something that should be depended on. I feel for these kids because it limits their growth. Maybe I am wrong, maybe I am old school, I am not sure. What do you think?
I do want to add how it is not the kids fault. They are being taught to do these things from their guardians/parents. (Thank you to the responder who brought this to my attention)
10 people like this
11 responses
@TheInvisibleMan (17603)
•
17 Jan 17
Limits the skilld of some adults... Imagine in children. 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
17 Jan 17
@Lasckos2 My daughter is very good at following suggestions of experts. Where she is raising her children and in the materials she reads it is "suggested" that children younger than two years old not be allowed to watch television or anything else like that. Her kids had no computer gadgets for entertainment or learning until they were older than that. I frequently see little bitties who use the parent's phones, demand the phones whenever and however they want.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34783)
• Peoria, Arizona
17 Jan 17
I honestly do not think it is technology. It is how parents are teaching their children. My nieces and many children I have baby sat knew how to communicate, play, and also enjoy youtube time on the iPad. Because, I and their parents taught them to use words. Adults keep blaming technology, when really adults are the problem. They are letting kids have more and more time on the tablets or TV instead of teaching them how to talk and how to play outside.
@DesirousDreamer (34783)
• Peoria, Arizona
18 Jan 17
@Lasckos2 That is a good child you have there. I think there is nothing wrong with kids watching TV as long as they still know how to play. So many times my parents shoved off my nieces when they wanted to play and it hurt me so much so I played with them. No my dad and step mom were too preoccupied with that dang television. It isn't just kids who are not getting the knowledge they need, adults are regressing as well.
@Lasckos2 (159)
• United States
17 Jan 17
Yes, this is true. It does come from the guardianship of the child. It is the parents/guardians using technology as a 'babysitter' if you will. The technology is being abused and it is numbing the children. After read your statement I should amend it to include what you said.... On how it is the adults fault for allowing so much screen time and technology time. I just find it so upsetting. I mean I am a mother and allow my kids some tv time, but not all day and not all the time. My 3 almost 4 year old does not watch any tv mon-fri. He is in full day preschool. When he gets home by 430 we eat dinner, play games, he hangs out with his baby brother, bath time, story time and then bed. I couldn't include tv time even if I tried. On the weekends its different, we usually watch a movie together.
@youless (112119)
• Guangzhou, China
17 Jan 17
You are right. Actually today the digital stuffs have created many problems for the children. They are not only bad for their eyesight, but also make them have less activities. Hard to imagine one day when a family has a meal together, they have to communciate each other by either tablet or mobile phone
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
18 Jan 17
Wow, I have never seen children that addicted to technology that they don't know how to communicate with others. That's really sad. My children have phones with apps on them for learning purposes mostly and games but their not allowed on them all day and night. They are home schooled, they can communicate with other children and adults with no problem at all.
@Lasckos2 (159)
• United States
18 Jan 17
It is sad, I have never really seen it so severe until this year. I have a couple of students who do not even know how to socially interact with peers as well as adults. They have difficulty even making eye contact. Its unfortunate that they have so much time on technology that it seems like they are numb to the world around them.... and they are ONLY 5/6.
@psanasangma (5884)
• India
18 Jan 17
I also feel new generation do not know how to socialize, they need physical activities with responsible task
@WorDazza (15833)
• Manchester, England
17 Jan 17
I have long held the belief that the human race is going into a reverse evolution phase and one of the causes of this is the advancement of technology.
It seems ironic that, despite huge advances in communication technology that allow us to communicate directly with pretty much anyone, anywhere, anytime, we seem to communicate with others less and less.
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
17 Jan 17
I think you are right. My daughter home schools. "Screen time" of any type is limited to thirty minutes a day, if at all. That does not include family times where all the family watches something together. All four of the children are articulate, and aware of the world around them. I see both examples, though, as I work in the public schools. I see kids who cannot wait for anything, who cannot listen to teachers and who think of nothing but the social networks and gaming sites. Not ready for the real world at all.
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
17 Jan 17
You could be right. My son is into gadgets. He has the latest iPhone, an iPad, and his very own desktop computer. Now did those hinder him from socializing with other kids? No. He has friends that he play basketball with, he is very active in school and a very smart one at that. I see these gadgets as privileges. But we always have to keep things in balance. It's the parents responsibility to see to it that their kids get the best out of both worlds.
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
17 Jan 17
It this partly also due to their lack of interaction outside the home?
We have dealt with some young ones not knowing what certain things were, such as a rake or a jump rope.
However, the concerns we all have are probably similar to the concerns our parents and grandparents had about the children and education.
