Brain development in babies and children occurs most rapidly until the age of 7. Early interaction with the environment is as important as nutrition in brain development. The more brain regions are stimulated and the more connections between nerve cells are established, the faster the brain develops. The loving attention of parents and children's participation in different physical and mental activities are the key to this development. However, intelligence does not only include the rapid use of the brain, but also the proliferation of experiences and the effective use of them in solving problems. Although the fastest learning and intelligence development occurs between the ages of 0-7, intelligence development lasts a lifetime.
How does the use of technological devices such as television, computer and mobile phone, which have become almost the basic learning and socialization environments of our lives in the last 10 years, affect the brain? Its effects are being newly investigated with increasing use. Considering that virtual communication with a wide audience using the Internet and the age of using technological devices is decreasing, these studies are very important. Dr. Larry Rosen, who researches the psychology of technology and writes books on E-diseases, stated that due to the excessive use of technology in young children, playing and spending time with parents, siblings or friends decreases, and that there are no physical cues in relationships established over the internet during school and adolescence, and that social relationships He points out that the problem of not being able to read the environment correctly arises.
The computer and internet environment, which is based on constantly and quickly making decisions and taking action, disables the mechanism of our brain called the default mode network. We use the mechanism called the default mode network when daydreaming, wandering, and letting the mind relax. Researchers think that creative breakthroughs, called a-ha experiences, occur in this thinking mode, and that the constant focus of the brain prevents this. Again, according to research, our brain is more active on the internet, for example, in elderly people who did research on the Google search engine for the first time, the brain was observed to be more active compared to reading a book.
The fact that the brain is constantly active and processing a lot of data is challenging for some people. experts, parents alara recommends that children up to the age of 5 limit their use of technology to half an hour a day, and for this half hour, at least 2.5 hours (1 unit of technology use, 5 units of different activities) activities that calm the brain such as chatting with people, playing with toys, listening to music, emptying the brain. suggests. They say that before adolescence, this rate may be half, and in adolescence, at least 1 brain-calming activity for every 5 units of technology use would be realistic.
According to the information obtained from sleep studies, our brain works in 90-minute cycles while sleeping and awake. Therefore, for adults, at least 10 minutes of mind-calming activities are recommended for every 90 minutes of technological device use. Dr. Richard Coyne and his colleagues showed that nature walks put brain activity into a calm mode called involuntary attention. Other studies show that looking at works of art, listening to music or playing a musical instrument, learning a foreign language, exercising, meditating, taking a warm shower, or even having a pleasant conversation with a friend in person or on the phone calms the brain. Of course, these events also activate the Default Mode Network. As neuroscientists accept and many people point out, many creative ideas are born while wandering in nature or while taking a bath.
Since the brain is constantly active, it requires the use of beta brain waves that trigger stress, which is actually more likely to cause anxiety disorders physically. It is thought that we have become prone to it. Alpha waves, which the brain uses when awake, give a feeling of calmness and peace.
Therefore, we must take care of our child's and our own brains, including infancy. We should guide them in the use of technology at a young age, create opportunities for creative and calming activities in our own lives other than the use of technology, set an example for them and provide a loving relationship environment so that we can support them in becoming people who have solid communication and thinking skills and are at peace with themselves in the future.
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