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Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

has become an indispensible element in young children’s

lives. It provides not only entertainment, but also

function of education through interesting and interactive

ways. Nonetheless, adverse effects might be happened if

inappropriate usage of technology is applied.

Numerous news and research reported that ICT

could actually bring advantages to children. It

depends on how they use it adequately.

Let’s explore how to use ICT in a proper way!

The ways of

reducing the

physical

harms of

excess using

ICT among

young

children (aged

0-8)

This week’s focus:

KID’S

WEEKLY

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It seems that people nowadays cannot get rid of

ICT easily in a technological world. The

environment where they are living are full of

ICT products, such as mobile phones, computers

and televisions. Even for children, they have

already got familiar with these products at a very

young age.

There are 39% of children in the U.S. who aged

2-4 have already got exposure on iPad and

iPhone and television is the most popular screen

media platform among aged 0-8 children, with

an average of almost one viewing hour everyday

(Common Sense Media, 2013). Back to the Hong

Kong setting, there is a similar phenomenon as

the U.S. According to Centre for Health

Protection (2015), a survey has reported that TV

is the most frequent type of using electronic

screen products, which has contributed 78.4% of

preschool children and with an average daily

watching time 44.2 minutes. The watching time

of children in both places have nearly over the

suggestion time proposed by the American

Acadamy of Pediatrics. The report also

revealed that DVD, tablet PC and computer are

also popular products to young children, which

contributed 44.4%, 38.4% and 33.6% prevalence

of use respectively. However, some people might

concern about the physical development would

be affected while using ICT products too much,

such as causing myopia and movement

deprivation.

In fact, the original intention of ICT is to bring

about positive influence to varied domains

among young children. Runanga (2004) also

pointed out that ICT is a useful tool to facilitate

children’s learning and development. Even for

the kindergartens locally, they began to integrate

the element of ICT in the curriculum so as to

develop children’s multi-intelligence and create a

holistic interactive learning environment to

enhance their learning motivation and

creativity(Sharp, 2014; 沈師青，2013; 鄭婉玲、

胡馨允和葉志禧，2013 ).

This article will introduce some impacts on

excessive using of ICT products and give

recommendations on how to use ICT products

appropriately.

INTRODUCTION

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IMPACTS

PHYSICAL PROBLEMS

Vision (Myopia)

Motor Development

Others

Obesity

Radio Frequency and electromagnetic radiation

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IMPACTS - VISION (MYOPIA)

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

THE VISION DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN

Newborn Baby - Distinguish between light and dark to black and white

- The images are hazy seen since the macula in the retina has not

fully developed

0-4 months - Four, five feet can be clearly seen

- Began watching an object

- Hand-eye coordination began to learn and master

4-6 months - Color images

- The stereo vision began to develop

- Aware the moving object and begin to approach the

consciousness of the object.

6- 12 months - Focusing power has developed

12 months or above - Eye sight is gradually developed into an adult vision

- Eyes continue to enhance coordination

- Stereo vision consolidated slowly

**The critical period of visual development after birth and has been extended to about

six years old. The most important is in the eight months to three years old.

Hong Kong Association of Private Practice Optometrists (2009)

WHAT IS MYOPIA?

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IMPACTS - VISION (MYOPIA)

REASONS OF GETTING INTO MYOPIA

WILL YOUNG CHILD GET INTO MYOPIA EASILY?

Not enough guidance of using electronic devices

1. Overuse of electronic devices

The report on health effects of use of Internet and

electronic screen products pointed out that: If children

use the devices for a long time and stay close to the

screen, tired eyes will get dry easily. If the eyes have

overloaded, the opportunity of getting myopia will be

higher. They will also encounter some accommodation

problems such as wearing glasses to adjust the sight (Hong

Kong Department of Health, 2014).

2. Body posture (near distance)

According to Gary and Larry (2014), pediatric

eye doctors agree with overusing of computer will

put young children at risk for early myopia. Since

computer workstations often are arranged for

adult use, they will have less consideration for

the young children. Computer users should view the

screen slightly downward, at a 15-degree angle.

However, the young children need to change the viewing angle when using the computer.

Besides, children may experience in neck, shoulder

and/or back pain if the body posture is inappropriate

which will cause difficulty in reaching the keyboard or

placing their feet uncomfortably on the floor.

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IMPACTS - MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

CHILD DEVELOPMENT

A good and strong physical fitness habit can enhance

children’s motor development. Different abilities such as

sense of space, gross and fine motor skills, children

concentration and observation can be developed by physical

activities (The Curriculum Development Council, 2006).

REASONS OF AFFECTING MOTOR DEVELOPMENT

WILL AFFECT YOUNG CHILD MOTOR DEVELOPMENT EASILY?

Movement deprivation and lack of practicing on gross motor

The usage of electronic devices is

being increasingly common nowadays. Most

of the families in Hong Kong have more

opportunities to be in contact with computer,

TV, and mobile phone. For a young child,

they are also affected by the technological

culture; they may take the mobile phone

from their parents and watch TV most of the

time.

However, this will lead to movement

deprivation. Department of health suggested

that regardless of the intensity, children

should have 180 minutes of physical

activities every day. Louv stated that young

children overusing electronic devices will

cause them to lack connection with

themselves, others and nature, furthermore,

motor development would be affected by

limited outdoor activities (Comentario,

2014). In Hong Kong kindergarten, there are

classes for physical fitness and health, and

young children can play around at this time;

however, when they go back home after

school, they usually hold and play the

electronic devices for a long period of time.

As electronic devices are being more

attractive than outdoor activities, young

child may choose to play on mobile phones

and watch TV instead of outdoor activities.

It seems that there are lacking of outdoor

activities for children to develop their motor

skills holistically. Therefore, a static activity

and lack of movement will affect the motor

development of young children.

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OTHERS IMPACTS - OBESITY

REASONS

According to the report

from Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region in 2013,

it mentioned 9.3% of targets

(Infants, age 3-6) were

overweight and 4.2% were obese.

The problem of obesity arouses

public awareness, especially in

early childhood education. It is

found that lack of physical exercises

in childhood might lead to increased

risk of being obese (World Health

Organization, 2012). Besides,

Community sports committee (2012)

also reported there was an inverse proportion relationship between

the frequency of doing physical activities and the time consuming on using electronic

displays. It means children who spend much time on using electronics displays (static

activity), they do less physical activities in a day. Therefore, it is a kind of reasons

caused children obesity.

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OTHERS IMPACTS –

RADIO FREQUENCY AND

ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

REASONS

The World Health Organization warned

that exposure to microwave radiation from wireless devices might increase our

cancer risk (Clegg, 2014). A child’s head absorption for electromagnetic radiation

can be over two times or more, and absorption of the skull’s bone marrow can be

ten times greater than adults (Gandhi et al., 2011). If children excess using

electronic devices, children’s physical health will be threatened by the

electromagnetic radiation. The worst situation may be caused other health

problems in the future such as cancer.

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WARM REMINDER

Time limit for different ages on using electronics devices

For 0-2 yrs old: Avoid watching television and using any other

entertainment media

For 2-8 yrs old: Engage with entertainment media for no more

than one or two hours per day

20-20 rule

Encourage children to take 20-second breaks from the electronic

devices every 20 minutes to minimize the development of eye

focusing problems and eye irritation.

Do physical activity with higher intensity at least 3 hrs per

day

Motivate children to do more physical activity with higher

intensity like aerobic exercise, flexibility exercise and group

activities each day in order to reduce doing sedentary activity.

Correct gesture when using computer

Make sure the computer workstation is adjusted to children’s body

size. The recommended distance between the monitor and the eye

for children is 18 to 28 inches as viewing the computer screen

closer than 18 inches may strain the eyes.

Turn off all electronics including phones and internet

connections throughout the household before bedtime

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TIPS FOR PARENTS

Establish "screen-free" zones at home

Since too much “screen time” damages children’s eyes, it is a need for

parents to limit the pervasiveness of electronics devices. For example, do

not put televisions, computers or video games in children's bedrooms and

keep these electronics devices in public settings. This may help parents to

monitor their children’s internet use as well. Besides, parents can establish a

“Reading/ Playing Zone” for their children at home and set some rules like

no video games or phones at the table in order to avoid their children having

too much “screen time” in a whole day.

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TIPS FOR PARENTS

Encourage a mix of tasks throughout the day

Parents are able to set a time limit on the amount of time their children

can spend on the electronics each day (e.g No more than two hours per

day) and encourage children to have different activities in a day. For

example, let children take part in a variety of activities that involve

physical movement like playing in parks and playing simple ball games in

order to take frequent breaks from electronic using. It enlarges

children’s physical and social benefits in their development.

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TIPS FOR PARENTS

Be a good role model

One poll shows that only 24% of children have a device in their bedroom if

their parents do not. It is proved that if parents are responsible to be a good

role model in their use of electronics, most of their children will follow suit.

Hence, parents should avoid using any electronic devices during bedtime or

dinner in order to change their children’s attitudes and behaviors on using

electronics.

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TIPS FOR TEACHERS

Arrange ‘break time’ between ICT activities

As excess using of ICT would cause eye muscle strain, teachers can arrange

break time in between ICT activities. For example, teachers can use projector

and screen to assist teaching and turn it off after 15 minutes teaching. Teachers

can raise questions or ask children to share about the topic in order to continue

the lesson but not keep focusing on the screen.

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TIPS FOR TEACHERS

Use printed-pictures or real objects instead of e-pictures

Some teachers usually project pictures on screen during teaching. However,

frequent using might cause negative influents to children (as mentioned).

Therefore, teachers are suggested to use printed-pictures or real objects in possible

situation. For instance, if the theme of teaching is about fruits or shapes, real

objects might be a better choice to raise children’s interest. However, this is not

telling teachers not to use e-pictures as some teaching topics are not possible to

bring in real objects, and sometimes it is better to show pictures on computer when

children pop up ideas.

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TIPS FOR TEACHERS

Make e-materials reader-friendly

Children have to stay focus for a long time when teachers are showing

pictures or words on screen, which might cause eye strain and slow in

focusing. In order to reduce the pressure caused to children’s eyes,

teachers can enlarge the size of e-materials. Furthermore, enlarging the

contrast of color setting and using a filter to reduce harmful brightness can

also help.

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TIPS FOR TEACHERS

Integrate ICT with motor exercise

As mentioned, excess using of ICT might leads to negative influence for motor

development. Teachers can encourage children to use ICT as a tool to assist their

motor exercise. For example, playing music or guiding video to do aerobic

exercise. Indeed, teachers have to remind children not to focus on the visual ICT

devices for a long time as it might leads to visual problem.

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TIPS FOR CHILDREN

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TIPS FOR CHILDREN

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TIPS FOR CHILDREN

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CONCLUSION

Although negative influences might be brought while using

ICT products excessively and inappropriately among young

children, ICT is undoubtedly a useful tool to accelerate

children’s development and learning as well as enhance

efficiency in their lives.

Children, parents and teachers could follow the

recommendations mentioned above in order to ease the

impacts on physical development.

Let’s try out the suggestions now and you will know

the invention of ICT is actually beneficial to children!

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REFERENCES

Comentario D. U. (2014). A research review regarding the impact of technology on child development,

behavior, and academic performance. Neuropsicologia Cognitiva Choicemart Edu.

Community sports committee. (2012). Report of the Advisory Committee for the Healthy Exercise for All

Campaign － Physical Fitness Test for the Community. Retrieved from

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/cscommittee/common/form/paper_csc_20120716_1_e.pdf

Common Sense Media. (2013). Zero to eight: Children’s media use in America 2013. Common Sense Media,

7-31.

Centre for Health Protection. (2015). Use of Internet and Electronic Screen Products among Children and

Adolescents. China, Hong Kong: Centre for Health Protection.

Gary, H. & Larry, K. (2014). Children and Computer Vision Syndrome. Retrieved from

http://www.allaboutvision.com/cvs/children-computer-vision-syndrome.htm

Gandhi, O.P , Morgan, L.L, Han, Y.Y , Herberman, R.B. & Davis, D.L.& Salles, A.A. (2012). Exposure limits: the

underestimation of absorbed cell phone radiation, especially in children. Electromagn Biol Med. 31(1),

34-51

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. (2013). Healthy Exercise for All Campaign ─ Physical Fitness Test

for the Community. Hong KongMonthly Digest of Statistics. Retrieved from

http://www.statistics.gov.hk/pub/B71302FA2013XXXXB0100.pdf

StartSmart@school.hk. (2012). Physical Activity Guide for Children Aged 2 to 6. Department of Health.

Retrieved from http://www.startsmart.gov.hk/files/pdf/02052012_physical-Eng-d.pdf

Sharp. (2014). 鳳溪幼稚園 : 電子白板打造智慧教室，激發師生互動學習。檢自

http://www.sharp.com.hk/html/education/case.html

The Curriculum Development Council (2006). Guide to the Pre-primary Curriculum. The Education Bureau

HKSAR.

The Department of Health. (2014). Health Effects on Use of Internet and Electronic Screen Products.

Retrieved from http://www.studenthealth.gov.hk/english/internet/health_effects.html

The Hong Kong Association of Private Practice Optometrists. (2009). Vision Development. Retrieved from

http://www.hkappo.org.hk/eyeprofile.php?item=27

沈師青（2013.12.03）：iPad入幼稚園 助長「芒」一族？。《經濟日報》，檢自

http://www.hket.com/eti/article/6596e405-2e81-4273-8b6f-97b42f534aa8-968094

鄭婉玲、胡馨允和葉志禧（2013）：《平板電腦與幼兒教育課程：香港的經驗》 ，現代教育通訊，第

102期。