Lisa Sharma (name changed), a four year old girl in Kolkata is so obsessive with cell phones that when her father comes home in the evening, she just takes her father’s mobile. She even has disinterest to talk to her father. Lisa is not only making phone calls but she is good at playing games, listening music and watching videos. Lisa’s example is not a standalone one. Parents are concerned that kids are religiously addicted to mobiles. Leading play schools like Genius Kids have been taking a constructive role to bring awareness among parents teaching merits and demerits of mobile phones.

In metros, almost all families don’t use land phones often. Parents mostly rely on mobilesand children have easy access to it from very early age. Experts warn that handing over the gadget to a child may not be good as it can be damaging to child’s physical and mental health. It can prove to be a disruption and affect one’s study. Doctors too advise that frequent and prolonged use of mobiles can cause hearing loss, chances of ear infections, attention problems, sleep disturbances and mood swings. A survey conducted by a cartoon channel in India showed that 95% kids stay in homes with a mobile phone while 73% of Indian kids are mobile phone users. Of these, 70% fall under the age between 7 to 10 years.

A child demands mobile phones under peer pressure. Top notch play schools like Genius Kids educate students about the negative impact of the gadgets to avoid peer pressure. In fact, Department of Telecommunication of Government of India has also floated a precautionary note for mobile users. A reputed day care like Genius Kids day care teaches children to hold the cell phones away from body to the extent possible using headset (Bluetooth or wired) to keep the handset away from one’s head.

An innovative and accountable play schools like Genius Kids let parents know some crucial facts as notified by the Telecommunication Department. If the radio signal is weak, a mobile phone will escalate its transmission power. So, it is better to use mobile phone where reception is good and signal is strong.  Children at a reputed play schools like genius Kids are taught in a simple way that metal and water are good conductors of radio waves so parents and children must avoid using a mobile phone while wearing metal-framed glasses or having wet hair. Parents perhaps put the handset on their ear before connecting the call. This is an ill-practice.

A top day care like Genius Kids keeps parents aware of the fact that a mobile phone first makes the communication at higher power and then reduces power to an adequate level. More power is radiated during call connecting time.

Given the negative side of the gadget, as a parent, the onus is yours to monitor its usage. Parents often have slotted specific time for their kids to watch television, the same can be done for mobile usage. Teachers at Genius Kids teach them that it is a privilege but the same can be taken away from a kid if he/she misuses it.

Myths and facts about mobile handsets and mobile base stations

Source: Department of Telecommunication, Government of India

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