Child First, Screen Later: “Ammake ki checkchi nagche?” — giggles burst from every corner of the room as a little girl mispronounces a popular Instagram reel dialogue. Phones come out, fingers hit the ‘record’ button, and within minutes, the video is online, gaining likes, shares, and hearty emojis.
Yet no one in that room asks: Does she even understand what she just said?
Moments later, a slightly older boy sings a suggestive Bollywood song he clearly doesn’t comprehend. Again, it’s not concern that follows—but amusement. Family members cheer, laugh, and upload. In the race for attention, a child’s innocence is quietly traded for clout.
Children in a Synthetic World
According to child development experts, today’s children are increasingly raised not in reality, but in a carefully curated digital world. Their companions are not classmates or neighborhood friends, but flashy mobile screens, overstimulating YouTube characters, and endless Instagram reels. Nature, books, playgrounds, and even imagination are all slowly disappearing from their daily lives.
Children no longer tear leaves out of curiosity, nor chase butterflies. They now swipe, tap, and scroll through filters and emojis. The organic world is being replaced by digital surrogates—visually vibrant but emotionally hollow.
The Brain Builds Early—And It’s Already Under Threat
Scientific studies show that a child’s cognitive structure and mental wiring develop most critically by the age of eight. Unfortunately, many kids today become accustomed to mobile screens as early as two years old, with parents using devices to pacify or “keep them occupied.”
This premature screen exposure hampers:
- Creativity
- Focus and attention span
- Real-world cognitive and emotional connectivity
While a child may appear “calm” when immersed in a mobile game or reel, this tranquility is often deceptive. It’s not peace—it’s passive disconnection.
Social Skills Are Deteriorating
Children raised on mobile devices are showing signs of social withdrawal. They find it harder to engage in real-life conversations, express emotions, or understand social cues. Their world is self-centric, screen-centric—and it lacks the unpredictability and joy of human interaction.
A “quiet child” glued to a screen might be a blessing for a busy household, but for the child, it could be a silent tragedy unfolding.
Not Age-Appropriate, But Still Consumed
Many of the songs, dialogues, and content consumed by children are loaded with innuendos, adult humor, or outright vulgarity. Even if children don’t understand these references, they repeat them, learn them, and normalize them.
From a neurological standpoint, this is dangerous. A child’s subconscious mind absorbs more than it rationally processes. What they mimic today can mold the person they become tomorrow.
Who’s Responsible? We Are.
The real culprit is not just the content. It’s us—the parents, the family, the society.
- Busy work lives
- Lack of extended family interaction
- Social media validation culture
- And the lure of quick entertainment and monetization
All these factors have created an environment where screens are replacing real parenting.
We have become so engrossed in posting about our children that we’ve forgotten to be present for them. Their moments of learning, wonder, and imagination are being compressed into 15-second clips—tailored not for memory, but for the algorithm.
What Do Children Actually Want?
Not gadgets.
Not YouTube.
Not filters.
They want presence.
Children crave:
- Companionship
- Someone to play with
- Someone to draw with
- Someone to read or tell stories to them
- Someone who notices their unfiltered imagination
When parents take time to engage, not just entertain, children grow into thoughtful, empathetic, and well-rounded human beings.
The Way Forward — Practical Solutions for Every Household
Give Time, Not Tablets:
Replace screen time with personal time. Even 30 minutes of mindful engagement makes a difference.
Filter What They Watch:
If they must watch, make sure the content is age-appropriate. Use parental controls and be present.
Encourage Outdoor Play:
Parks, sand, trees, water, pets—these are not just nature’s gifts; they are tools for growth.
Tell Stories, Don’t Just Show Screens:
Bedtime stories, homemade tales, or just talking about your day can strengthen emotional bonds.
Don’t Use Them for Social Media Fame:
Avoid turning every cute moment into viral content. A child is not a content creator—they are a learner, an explorer.
Set Limits and Stick to Them:
Designate “no screen” zones and hours—mealtime, bedtime, and playtime should be screen-free.
A Societal Crisis in the Making
This isn’t a personal parenting problem—it’s a cultural epidemic.
If we don’t change course now, we are preparing a generation that may be tech-savvy but emotionally bankrupt, information-rich but wisdom-poor, connected online but disconnected from themselves.
Future generations might grow up not knowing:
- The scent of wet earth after rain
- The taste of homemade mango pickle
- The joy of paper boats
- The bond of shared secrets with a best friend
All replaced by GIFs, filters, and AI-generated voiceovers.
It’s Time to Wake Up: Child First. Screen Later.
Let us remember: our children need to grow up with us, not without us, while we scroll through someone else’s life.
Let us stop trading their childhood for our convenience.
The next time your child says something funny, don’t just reach for your phone.
Reach for their hand.
Walk with them.
Listen to them.
Teach them how to live, love, and imagine—without depending on a screen.
Final Word
In a world that rewards constant digital presence, let us be present in the real world—for our children.
Because before we create content out of them, we must first create character in them.
Read More: A Moment of Pride | Mr. Malay Peet to Receive Prestigious International Recognition in Almaty
