Page 54 - Varsity Special Issue

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encourged my children to play basket- “
ball and clean the yard at home,” she
says. Children tend to get emotionally unstable
Similarly, Lin tries to shift her
children’s attention away from the when stimulated by digital content.
cartoons. She purchased teaching
packages for her children to make
homemade soap, build blocks, and as- ”
semble magnetic building toys.
Dr. Cecilia Lam
Dr. Cecilia Lam
Cut Down Screen Time dren. “On the positive side, children tions, like learning the social cues and ally unstable when stimulated by digi-
Cecilia Lam Wing-chi, the profes- are more comfortable with learning in social positions,” Lam says. Socializ- tal content,” she adds.
sional consultant of the Department the virtual classrooms,” she says. ing is an important part of children
of Educational Psychology at the Chi- “Since teachers now are making ef- development, when children learn
nese University of Hong Kong, says forts to make online lessons more in- how to form friendships and interact
it is “unavoidable” for children to use teractive and engaging, children have with others.
electronic devices during the pan- fun in learning too,” Lam says. “For “Long period of exposure to
demic. “Parents should try to mini- kids who are shy, they feel more com- screens is bad for their eye sight,” Lam
mize their screen time,” she says. Lam fortable to speak up,” she adds. says. “It provides too much stimula-
suggests 30 minutes per time for pri- “On the other hand, online lessons tion to children’s physical and mental Edited by Emilie Lui
Edited by Emilie Lui
mary school children, and 15 minutes deprive children of social interac- health. Children tend to get emotion- Sub-edited by Howard Li
Sub-edited by Howar
d Li
for preschoolers.
Lam thinks that parents should ar-
range engaging games and activities
as alternatives. Toys sets such as Lego,
arts and crafts, readings, and family
board games are recommended. “For
preschoolers, hands-on toys are more
suitable for them,” she says. “Parents
are encouraged to create toys corners
for preschoolers to get them fully en-
gaged.”
Lam points out that e-learning has
positive and negative effects on chil-
Enzo was making chalk pain ts o n the balc o n y during the l ock do wn in Singapore.
Enzo was making chalk paints on the balcony during the lockdown in Singapore.
( Photo Courtesy o f K yra Ku o )
(Photo Courtesy of Kyra Kuo)
childrens visit their grandparents as In Search for Solutions “
usual to prevent infection. And that To reduce screen time for children, Parents are
deprives the couple of their time to parents try hard to think of alternative
rest. “Their grandparents used to look activities for their kids. Kuo let Enzo encouraged to
after the kids at their place on Satur- make chalk paints on the balcony. The
day afternoon, so my husband and I toddler also used boxes to build a 3D create toys corners
could rest or go shopping,” Lin says. parking garage with his father. “Enzo
Lin lets her children watch more sometimes joined me in cooking din- for preschoolers to
cartoon. “But I find the children re- ner and bathing his baby brother. This
ally are addicted to watching TV,” Lin allowed me to keep him company get them
says. “They ask for more cartoons and when doing the chores,” Kuo says. fully engaged.
become emotionally unstable. They Wang tried reading books and play-
will throw a tantrum and it is difficult ing board games more with her chil-
to communicate with them when they dren to reduce their use of electronic
Kuo manages HalfBloodLittlePrince on Facebook and Instagram to share her daily
cry and act naughty,” Linn adds. devices during the lockdown. “I also ” Ku o manages HalfBl oodLi ttlePrince o n F acebook and Instagram to share her dail y
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th the famil
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life with the family. (Photo Courtesy of Kyra Kuo)
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