- Young children can seamlessly move a mouse, play a computer game and operate a smartphone, but fall short when it comes to everyday life tasks
- 25% of children can open a web browser, but only 20% can swim unaided
- Those with mothers age 35 and older have more ‘life skills’, like writing
Stacy Liberatore For Dailymail.com
30
View
comments
Children are known for grasping things quickly, especially activity involving technology.
But a new survey reveals these types of tasks may be the only things they are learning.
An online study from AVG Technologies found 58 percent of children aged 3 to 5 can operate a smartphone, but only one to six percent know how to make their own breakfast.
Scroll down for video
A new survey reveals these types of tasks may be the only things they are learning. An online study from AVG Technologies reveals 58 percent of children aged 3 to 5 can operate a smartphone, but only one to six percent know how to make their own breakfast
HOW WELL DO YOUNG CHILDREN KNOW TECHNOLOGY?
AVG Technologies, a Netherlands-based firm that develops security software, has been running a regular series of ten-country studies it calls, ‘AVG Digital Diaries’.
The firm found that 58% of children age two to five have no trouble playing a basic video game, but are found to have issues riding a bicycle and preparing a meal in the morning for themselves.
25% of children know how to open a web browser than swim without help (20 percent).
There doesn’t seem to be a gender gap with technology, as 58% of boys and 59% of girls are all familiar with computer games or using a mobile phone to make a call (28% boys and 29% girls).
However, children with mothers who are age 35 and older have more ‘life skills’ than those with younger parents.
AVG found that 40% of toddlers are able to write their own names if their mother is older than 35, compared to the 34 %with mothers 34 years old and younger.
AVG Technologies, a Netherlands-based firm that develops security software, has been running a regular series of ten-country studies it calls, ‘AVG Digital Diaries’.
Each stage of this testing explores how the Internet has affected the development of young children –starting with ages zero to two.
A majority of small children can seamlessly move a mouse, play a computer game and operate a smartphone, but fall short when it comes to everyday life tasks like tying their shoelaces or making their own breakfast.
The study found that more than 58 percent of children age two to five have no trouble playing a basic video game, but are found to have issues riding a bicycle and preparing a meal in the morning for themselves.
And AVG also discovered that more children (25 percent) know how to open a web browser than swim without help (20 percent).
Interestingly enough, there doesn’t seem to be a technology gender divide among young boys and girls, as 58 percent of boys and 59 percent of girls are all familiar with computer games or using a mobile phone to make a call (28 percent boys and 29 percent girls).
However, children with mothers who are age 35 and older have more ‘life skills’ than those with younger parents.
Are YOU obsessed with your phone? Researchers reveals…
‘Men work LONGER hours than women’: Male employees spend 40…
Arthritis timebomb warning for the under 40s: Doctors say…
Is Lego getting more VIOLENT? Themes for the popular toy…
AVG found that 40 percent of toddlers are able to write their own names if their mother is older than 35, compared to the 34 percent with mothers 34 years old and younger.
Not only are children learning how to operate technology at a very young age, most of them have a digital footprint from the moment they are brought into the world.
HOW TO KNOW WHAT YOUR CHILD IS UP TO ONLINE
1. Talk to your children:
Ask them what they’re up to when they’re playing on their smartphone or device. While they might fob you off, it pays to take an interest in your kids’ interests.
2. Try to supervise them where possible:
Keep children in eye shot when they’re on a computer or device. Try to encourage the idea that they shouldn’t be messing around on the Internet in bed and advocate night-time hours with phone, iPads and computers where they turn them off.
3. Be aware of new technologies:
Keep an eye out for the new sites, apps and devices which pop up every single day. Awareness is the most important thing for tackling unforeseen problems.
Approximately 81 percent of children under two years old have some type of online portfolio where their pictures are displayed – this increases to 92 percent in the US.
AVG’s findings coincide with research carried out earlier this year that revealed toddlers are operating tablets and smartphones before they can even speak.
The survey of 1,000 people was carried out by MiMedia, a New York-based online data storage company, which found that nearly three out of five parents say their child is using a touchscreen digital device before they have said their first words.
However, children with mothers who are age 35 and older have more ‘life skills’ than those with younger parents. AVG found that 40 percent of toddlers are able to write their own names if their mother is older than 35, compared to the 34 percent with mothers 34 years old and younger
The toddlers were able to swipe the gadget and get it to function even though they could not talk, according to a new study.
Almost half of parents said their child under the age of three also liked taking selfies.
The figures show the extent to which electronic gadgets are taking over children’s lives.
WILL PHONE USAGE MAKE CHILDREN ‘CROSS-EYED’?
Youngsters who excessively use their smart phones could be damaging their eyes.
According to researchers in South Korea, children who frequently use the devices are at greater risk of temporary convergent strabismus – or going ‘cross-eyed’.
Experts at Chonnam National University Hospital, Seoul, found a link between the two after examining 12 children, aged 7-16, who used their phones for 4-8 hours a day.
The children also held their phones between eight and 12 inches from their faces, meaning proximity could also be a cause.
The researchers told Yonhap News that the condition – which sees the eyes focus inwards – has rarely been diagnosed in South Korea, but is now increasingly prevalent.
It was reported that medics were able to reverse the symptoms in nine of the children by discontinuing mobile phone use for two months.
The study also found that 58 percent of parents said that before the age of three, their child was able to operate a touchscreen digital device by swiping, even if they were not yet speaking.
It also reveals that parents are just as much to blame, as 47 percent of them upload pictures or videos of their children to a social media at least once a day.
Share or comment on this article
See Kanye in bed with Kim K Taylor Swift in racy new video
Bully gets knocked out and humiliated by smaller kid
First video showing damage of rollercoaster crash in…
Police say three dead after family dispute lead to shooting
‘Stop, stop!’: US cop shouts before firing at suspect in car
Video captures Singapore Airlines Jet burst into flames
Unlikely friends: Tiger and German Shepard play together
Baby gorilla takes a tumble after attempting first chest…
Passenger films from runway after plane caught fire in…
Woman swims near giant crocodile with only a thin plastic…
ISIS kills Syrian reporters by hiding bombs in cameras and…
Passengers evacuated by emergency slide at London Heathrow
EU leaders REFUSE to start informal talks with Britain and…
Why did a mother gun down her daughters in horrific Texas…
What are military UN trucks doing in Virginia? Bemused…
Carnage at Scottish fairground as ‘Tsunami’ rollercoaster…
‘Don’t do this. They’re our kids!’ Texas father watched in…
The hills are alive with the sound of vomit: Wedding…
EXCLUSIVE: Daughter gunned down by mom in Texas was due to…
The Brexit blockers: Bitter losers from all parties gang up…
Mass stabbing at neo-Nazi rally leaves at least ten hurt and…
The slave who taught Jack Daniels how to make whiskey:…
Can you believe she is FIFTY? Fitness fanatic amazes…
American Airlines passengers forced to flee down emergency…
Comments (30)
Share what you think
-
Newest -
Oldest -
Best rated -
Worst rated
The comments below have not been moderated.
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Find out now