Little girl who was "raised on a mobile phone" suffers years of eye problems

[webfact]

Little girl who was "raised on a mobile phone" suffers years of eye problems

 

Picture: Sanook

 

A Thai father went on Facebook to warn parents about leaving their children in front of mobile phones to keep them quiet. 

 

Dachar Chuayduang was too busy in his shop to spend time with his daughter Natthanan, now 4. 

 

When she was two a customer commented that she had a problem with her eyes. 

 

Doctors said it was "lazy eyes" meaning that both eyes were not coordinated. 

 

Two years of operations have followed. 

 

Dachar warned parents not to leave their kids in front of phones as it was no way to raise them. 

 

Source: Sanook

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-11-05

[worgeordie]

16 minutes ago, webfact said:

Dachar warned parents not to leave their kids in front of phones as it was no way to raise them. 

Common sense really,maybe one thing that is in short supply

here when you read stories like this and others.

regards worgeordie

[Misterwhisper]

Why would a toddler need a mobile phone anyway? Irresponsible, lazy parenting, that's what it is. If you cannot find time for your child, don't have one.

[wgdanson]

7 minutes ago, Misterwhisper said:

Why would a toddler need a mobile phone anyway? Irresponsible, lazy parenting, that's what it is. If you cannot find time for your child, don't have one.

Unfortunately it takes 5 minutes (or seconds) to make one, and 20 years to bring one up. 

[BritManToo]

4 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Unfortunately it takes 5 minutes (or seconds) to make one, and 20 years to bring one up. 

Statistically, 100 bangs = 1 pregnancy.

For me that worked out at roughly 6 years with my English wife or less than a month with my Thai gf.

You must be a lot faster than the rest of us.

Edited November 5, 2018 by BritManToo

[OneMoreFarang]

I don't think the eyes are the only or even the main concern for kids who have permanently a screen in front of their face.

But it seems many parents just don't care or don't think or "think": everybody does it.

[fullcave]

Most children in Thailand are being "raised by the mobile phone. 

[Mansell]

The kids use them to watch cartoon and play games. I noticed my lady's son spending hours on the phone and then squinting to watch television.....needless to say his long distance sight was screwed and he now wears glasses. I put them on a diet for using their phones and tablets. They don't like it, but they follow what I say. There are going to be a whole generation of kids with eye issues because of these electronic playthings. Nobody seems to care.

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed. 

[Classic Ray]

No opinion yet from any qualified eye specialist about this issue. If he had put his child in front of books for years, no one would be bothered. I don’t believe there is any ill effect from watching phones if the child has normal vision. Should have their eyes tested regularly, it was just part of child care in the UK but doesn’t seem to figure here.

[richard_smith237]

I can see how lengthy uninterrupted spells staring at a Smart Phone or Tablet can impact the quality of a childs vision, that said, its possible that this child was going to face vision issues anyway and the over-use of the Smart Phone / Tablet may not have been the sole contributing factor. 

 

With regards to the 'bigger picture' of over-use of Smartphone's and Tablets - there are a number of schools of thought, one which suggests complete abstinence from the use of a Smart Phone or Tablet for Children... I would disagree with this and find the Smart Phone and Tablet an extremely useful education tool as well as a tool to pacify a bored child. 

 

As an educational tool - the iPad is excellent, there are some wonderful programs and games which help the child play and learn. 

 

As Pacification - what better could there be on a long car journey or a flight, eye spy in the car, coloring on a flight etc only covers so much time... the iPad and headphones work wonders. Equally so in a restaurant where the child has become a little bored with the adult's and is ready to move on (no running around!).

 

As with anything, a healthy balanced needs to be applied when using these excellent parenting and educational tools. They should not be the sole 'go-to' tool for parents wishing to occupy their children, neither should they be ignored as devilish devices some portray them to be... 

 

It's become popular for some parents to implement a 'non-screen' policy... you hear these parents saying my child is not allowed the phone / TV / iPad... I feel these children may be missing out on some of the more modern aspects of education and the parents seem to be following an 'organic parenting style'... their choice, but I can't help considering they are just being fashionable rather than looking at the true and balanced pro's and con's....

 

And of course the cycle continues with each new thing... the next generation will be compelling about their kids being addicted to VR or holographic games etc...  generations of yesteryear were told 'get your head out of that book and get outside and play'......

Edited November 6, 2018 by richard_smith237

[brewsterbudgen]

My son has had a tablet since he was 2 and while I do worry about his "addiction" and possible eye or hand (RSI) problems, it's been of great value in expanding his vocabulary and general knowledge.  He reads books as well, and plays with toys, but I don't think the 21st century dependence on gadgets can be escaped.  There were similar over-blown scare stories about watching TV, playing computer games in the past.

[kotsak]

Why would a toddler need a mobile phone anyway? Irresponsible, lazy parenting, that's what it is. If you cannot find time for your child, don't have one.

But.. but.. but.. that's my retirement plan..

Sent from my Nokia 7 plus using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[unamazedloso]

my brother had this problem as a child with mobile phones not invented yet. Our son loves his tablet and we drag it away from him but its everything to him. If he squints or shows eye distress we take it away instantly. He has no interest in anything physical so its a struggle to find much else to do. We drag him bciycle riding, playing basketball, swimming, scooting, etc but it all fails to raise an interest.

Its a world issue. times are different.

[Krataiboy]

These amazing devices have not been around long enough for their pros and cons to be properly assessed. But there is some pretty worrying evidence that they can cause short-sightedness in very young children and effect cognitive development.

(https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/does-spending-too-much-time-on-smartphones-and-tablets-damage-kids-development-a7067261.html)

 

And of course, if a child becomes addicted to a smartphone (which some definitely do) they are missing out on time to expore real world beyond the flickering screen.

 

For these reasons alone, it would seem sensible to at least limit the smartphone time children are allowed, particularly as toddlers or infants.

 

I have misgivings when I see my four-year-old grandson with his face constantly stuck in his tablet. Like lots of young mums and dads today, his parents bought it partly as an educational tool, but also use it as a hi-tech dummy, keeping him occupied so they can spend carefree hours superglued to their own smartphones.

 

Can't really complain. In my day, we would have dumped him in front of the telly!

 

 

Edited November 6, 2018 by Krataiboy