Far from being an enabler as it was heralded to become, digital technology has made parenting an incrementally complex duty. Although digital wonder apps enable working mothers to keep an eye on infants at home and supervise their care throughout office hours, digital technology also has its dark side replete with lurking dangers for children, particularly teenagers. Moreover, the ubiquitous mobile phone, laptop, desktop computer, Alexa, Google Home and gaming consoles, among other tech gadgets have rapidly transformed from enabling and empowering communication devices to not-so-magnificent obsessions. A new 21st century lifestyle affliction: technology/digital addiction, defined as “an impulse control disorder that involves the obsessive use of mobile devices, the Internet or video games, despite negative consequences to the user of the technology,” now threatens the world’s children, including infants.

Millennial children — born in the 21st century and raised according to hi-tech prescriptions — have become vulnerable victims of digital addiction. According to the Unicef Child Online Protection in India Report 2016, 134 million children in India have access to the Internet and mobile phones. And a rain of research studies has begun highlighting the disastrous effects of indiscriminate and obsessive use of tech gadgets and Internet by young children and adolescents. According to these survey studies excessive on-screen time adversely impacts the attention spans and creativity, social interaction, and neural growth and development of children.

In our year-end cover story, we beam a spotlight on the disturbing phenomenon of digital addiction which is belatedly setting off alarm bells within the teacher-parent community. This feature provides useful information on the warning signs of digital dependence and expert advice on how parents can prevent it from transforming into addiction. The onus is on parents, many of whom are unwittingly encouraging and pushing children to find solace in technology and the online world, to take the lead in counseling and educating children to maintain a healthy online and offline life balance. Their physical, social and emotional well-being depends on it.

In this issue of ParentsWorld, we also present the results of the ninth annual EducationWorld India Preschool Rankings 2018-19. EducationWorld (an affiliate of ParentsWorld) conducted the survey in association with the highly-reputed Delhi-based market research and opinion polls company Centre for Forecasting and Research Pvt. Ltd (C fore) to rate and rank the most respected pre-primaries/preschools in 16 large and smaller cities countrywide. We believe these league tables will enable young parents to choose the most suitable pre-primaries for their children to give them a good start in life.

Also check out our Health & Nutrition essay on protecting children from passive smoking and Activity Zone feature on the new fitness sport of trampolining.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

— Summiya Yasmeen