WRITING 7+ // DEVICES

These days children spend a lot of time on devices playing games and watching shows. Some believe this is harmful for mental health.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many believe that children's increased usage of electronics devices such as smartphones, tablets, or TV for gaming and watching programs is mentally harmful to them. In my opinion, while this development might have some noticeable benefits, I entirely agree that it is detrimental to a child's mental health.

On the one hand, certain genres of video games, such as puzzles, chess, or simulations, can stimulate children's brains' gray matter. In other words, they are essentially workouts for the mind disguised as entertainment. By constantly thinking and solving problems, for example, figuring out the next moves or what numbers to put in, children can help reinforce the link between their brain cells, improving their mental speed, memory, and visual-spatial reasoning. Similarly, watching videos such as live shows or action movies can stimulate children's minds and emotions as they assimilate the content, enhancing their cognitive and mental health.

Nonetheless, the aforementioned exceptions do not justify the damaging impacts that games and videos have on children's growing minds. Studies suggest that excessively playing video games can lead to major mental health concerns such as aggressive attitudes, negative emotions, low self-esteem, loneliness, and poor academic skills. This occurs because when children immerse themselves in the virtual world for an extended period, they will develop a difficult-to-break gaming habit, causing them to neglect other important activities in real life, namely studying, exercising, communicating with others, and nurturing existing relationships. Likewise, excessive television viewing is also a problem. Higher levels of screen use are associated with reduced physical activity in children, increasing the risk of depression, anxiety disorders, and lower well-being.

In conclusion, aside from its marginal advantages, I totally agree that prolonged passive entertainment is overwhelmingly negative for children's minds. Parents, therefore, should carefully monitor their children's screen usage to ensure healthy cognitive development.
(298 words)

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