VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese children in big cities begin using electronic devices at a very early age, but parents are unsure if this is a good idea.

A survey conducted by the HCM City Ethnology & Anthropology Society and Epinion, a market analysis firm, found that 19 percent of the surveyed children below 3 years old use smartphones and tablets. The proportion is 59 percent among children aged from 3 to 5.

The children use the devices from 30 minutes to two hours a day. Meanwhile, 4-7 percent of children play with the devices for more than four hours a day, especially on holidays, weekend or Tet.

What do children do with digital devices? Play games, listen to music, watch films, read stories and study.

Girls like the creative drawing apps (74 percent), apps relating to music and songs (48 percent), foreign language learning (74 percent), and apps for spelling (59 percent). They also use digital devices to listen to music and watch cartoons (12 percent), while girls like cartoons more than boys.

Meanwhile, boys like normal games (71 percent), intellectual games (50 percent), and learning math (48 percent) with the devices. They also like listening to music and watching films (12 percent), while they like foreign music and films more than girls.

While parents mostly download apps related to education, the children tend to download games.

A psychologist noted that urban parents tend to allow their children to play with electronic devices while they are away and cannot take care of the children.

“Digital devices for home entertainment is a favorite choice for parents because they can communicate with children all day, while they are at work,” he said.

The survey has also found the serious impact that the devices have had on children. Sixty-nine percent of students had neglected their studies, while 66 percent were vulnerable to unhealthy content.

Children tend to be less communicative with their parents and relatives (56 percent), tend to be less active (73 percent), and at the risk of eye diseases (85 percent).

The games are addictive – children spend most of their time playing with smart devices while forgetting to sleep, eat and study, thus reducing their thinking ability and imagination.

Though aware of the risks, parents still let their children access electronic devices.

Most of the parents aged below 35 support letting children to use electronic devices at early ages. Meanwhile, the parents above 35 think this is harmful to children.

Most Vietnamese parents do not have necessary knowledge about the impact of smart devices on children. They do not know how much time their children can play with the devices every day.

Ngan Anh