Child development also means educating the parent
Bilingual Kindergarten is not only a place where a child spends most of their time. It is also the education of the parent and constant development in the areas of upbringing, language, and psychology. We know that the world has definitely moved forward in the 21st century. We live in times when information, news, media, and social networking sites meet our expectations. They are not only a daily escape for us, but also a huge source of information or help in learning or working. Due to the fact that we, adults, introduce the child to the world of media - we have a great responsibility for what content the child will absorb and how often the TV or the Internet will appear in our home life, especially now... during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is worth taking a closer look at this.
How do a child’s senses develop from the very beginning?
Let's start from the beginning... the first of the senses develops around the 8th week of pregnancy - touch. Then the so-called vestibular sense appears, thanks to which the child feels sensory impressions through movement in the mother's belly, as well as the activities that the mother performs during the day. Around the fifth month of fetal life, the sense of hearing begins to develop. The child begins to hear sounds coming from the outside, which also stimulates its development and has a positive effect on the bond between parents and the child. The last to appear are: the sense of sight and the sense of taste. As we can see, the senses develop slowly and in a specific order, so as to ensure the child's best and safest development and prepare the child for birth.
Sensory development as a foundation for further development
The first years of a child's life are a huge amount of information reaching them, from which the beginning of the child's ability to acquire new experiences and competences will be built. We acquire about fifty percent of our learning abilities by the age of four, and thirty percent of them by the age of eight. Therefore, it is worth providing the child with the best possible conditions to use their natural potential. Stimulating the senses is one of the best methods of working with children. Massaging, rolling or rocking a child allows us to create a solid foundation for the development of further functions and allows us to establish a good - safe bond with the child.
The role of electronics in a child's life – how to limit their impact?
A child's eye is not adapted to receive such a large amount of blue light from electronic devices. Blue light is emitted by the sun, for example, but also by electronic devices (the better the screen resolution, the more blue light it produces). Long, frequent exposure to such light can lead to eye damage, but also to sleep disorders. Blue light sends a signal to the brain and mobilizes it to work. Therefore, exposure to such light in the evenings is not a good idea. A few hours before bedtime, at least an hour or two, let's try to prevent the child from additionally tiring the eyes with blue light. This will have a positive effect on the quality of sleep and allow the child to rest effectively.
Content Control and Screen Time
It is the parent who controls the amount of time the child spends in front of electronic devices, but the parent also adjusts this content to the child's age. According to recommendations, children under the age of two should not have access to such devices. From the age of two to three, the total time spent on cartoons or games should not exceed 20 minutes. From the age of three to five, this time can be extended to 30 minutes. School children can spend about an hour a day on electronic devices. It is important that the parent turns the television, phone or tablet on and off and communicates the amount of time to the child (e.g. in the number of short cartoons or setting a timer).
Problems with too much electronics
What problems can arise and how can we notice an overabundance of electronics in our child's life? Here we are dealing with several aspects: cognitive (delayed speech development, difficulties in remembering commands, problems with learning), physical (vision, hearing, coordination disorders, reluctance of the child to move, sleep disorders, posture defects) and emotional (reluctance to play with other children, difficulties in establishing social contacts, isolation, lack of respect for social rules, chronic agitation, concentration disorders, impulsiveness, aggression). Too many stimuli encourage the child to look for more and more of them. That is why it so often seems to us that a fairy tale will calm the child down, but a moment later they are even more mobile and hyperactive.
Alternatives to electronics – sensory development and physical activities
What can we offer our child instead of TV? First of all, let's focus on our child's sensory development. It will be an excellent basis for building up neural pathways, thanks to which the child will effectively absorb knowledge at subsequent stages of learning. These can be sensory paths, obstacle courses, intertwining strings, pouring and pouring from one container to another. Cooking together or playing outdoors and exercising are also excellent choices that we make for our child. The multitude of smells, textures and consistencies in the kitchen causes the child to learn about the world with all their senses and builds new neural pathways.
Summary – the role of the parent in the child's development
Developing our child's mind and instilling in them a passion for learning, for testing and developing their knowledge will be a great support for their functioning in the 21st century. Parents are the first teachers of their child and it depends on them whether the child will be independent, curious about the world and active, as well as how they will perceive themselves in the future.
Author: Dominika Balcerzak