If you are a parent to an older child then you may be sick of hearing your child asking for different types of technology. There are certainly pros to your children owning and playing on tech, learning morals for instance. However, there are also many cons to giving your children technology. Consider of the dangers of online platforms, especially if you don’t always monitor what they are doing. Here are four possible issues you can run into when it comes tech.

Hearing Damage in Children

If your child has asked for headphones to use with their phone or their gaming console then talk to them about having the volume too loud. Ears are very sensitive and if the tiny hairs become damaged, putting a child at possible risk of hearing loss. They will then have to attend an appointment with an audiologist and potentially need to use a hearing aid if it gets too bad. If your child does come to you with hearing loss symptoms, then it is important to be sympathetic and kind. It may be tinnitus which is ringing in the ears, and you can consult with an audiologist about tinnitus treatment. 

Stranger Danger

You will never truly know who is on the other side of that screen. This is true for adults and children alike, but is obviously more dangerous for children who may not be aware of stranger danger. Try to teach your children from a very young age about the dangers of chatting to strangers. This starts in the street and in the park, as that is where you often frequent with children. However, when your children are older these dangers take the form of people online. Make sure you approve the people your children want to talk to, and make sure they are not talking to random people on video games. 

Risk of Addiction 

Another thing you and your child can face when it comes to tech is addiction. Children can quickly become obsessed with playing on their new device or console so it is important you limit their time. You may remember when Fortnite was released, so many children would become agitated when the time came to stop and were playing it over and over. Set a timetable so that your child knows when they can go on their tech and for how long. If your child is addicted to their technology then there is help out there. 

Inappropriate Content 

Finally, does your child use Youtube? If so, then you may want to sign them up for the kids one. There is so much content online that you don’t want your children to come across, from swearing to pornographic images. There are settings available so you can limit what they see, if you are unsure of how to go about this then you can look it up online. 

Hopefully these potential dangers gave you some ideas on what to look out for if you do decide to give your child technology. People say there is no harm in giving your kids an iPad or a Playstation, but there will always be risks. These could be hidden or looking you straight in the eye.