The Mischief of Mobile Phones as Caregivers or Babysitters for Children with Collaborative Developmental Delays

Abstract

The boon of connectivity using mobile phones is rather a bane in most family situations. The cases related to early dependence/addiction of mobile phones with the counselors and clinicians are rising alarmingly. Giving mobile phones to children is an easy way for engaging in various applications or other visual material which stimulates and involves the tender but vulnerable minds. Managing children with delayed milestones with regard to speaking, mobility, overall body control and social participation, is very challenging for the parents, furthermore for dual working parents. The study was done to assess the damage on children up to the age of 14 years by seeking inputs from clinical psychologists, school counselors and parents of children with developmental delay (N=120) over the period of 1 month. Case reports with the clinical psychologists were analysed. Inputs of school counselors/teacher report were studied. The parents were interviewed using semi structured interview schedule. The findings showed that most of these children had more than one developmental issues. Autism cases are on the rise, including secondary symptoms in some cases. Almost all parents reporting to clinicians admitted to using mobile phones to manage these children. Instead of one to one quality time for pro-active and purposive interactions which require dedication and focused time, mobile phones were making them indulge into poor and passive learning. The intervention suggestions included weeding out the mobile phone, practicing behavioral therapies involving active learning by simple instructions, expecting responses from children and using positive reinforcement. Use of music, dance, and storytelling, narrations on a concept or theme were expected to bring positive results. Polite public policy to keep out mobile phones can bring accepted change in working with children.