Some parents see learning through electronic gadgets as an effective method to groom their children before schooling.
A resident of Thimphu, Sangay Choden, who is a mother of four-year-old Pema Tsheyring Tshogyel, said her daughter is not just entertained but is learning through iPad.
She said Pema Tsheyring Tshogyel has picked up nursery rhymes and drawing. She said her daughter can also watch animation by herself and play educational games.
“In a way, it is not good for her to look at iPad all the time because it might affect her vision in the future. I am not sure of bigger impacts but we should limit their screen time.”
There are others who feel children should be kept away from gadgets.
“We have seen children using their parents’ phone the moment they reach home. But, we make it a point not to give phones to our children. Instead, we ask them to study hard,” said a resident of Thimphu, Pema Wangchuk.
Another parent in Thimphu, Dawa said children have started asking for a cell phone from the age of five. “Technology has gone so far.”
The health ministry has not conducted any research on the impact of gadgets on children in Bhutan.
The American Academy of Paediatrics says that children should avoid screens until they turn two. It says a child’s brain develops rapidly during these first years and they do best interacting with people not screens.
It also says parents should limit the screen time to only an hour even for children who are over two years old.
The researchers have also warned using a tablet or smart phone to divert a child’s attention could be harmful to “their social-emotional development”.
