This article discusses the negative effects of declining birthrates and digital device addiction on children’s social development and emotional regulation, and emphasizes the need for special education to address these issues. In particular, it points out that excessive parental dependence and smartphone addiction hinder children’s independence and interaction skills, and suggests that educational approaches are needed to compensate.
With the declining birth rate and the nuclear family, our society is changing from the past. Fewer children are born, which leads to parents pampering their children and making them selfish, and people’s familiarity with media such as smartphones and TVs leads to a disconnect between people. These changes are having a significant impact not only on family structures but also on society as a whole. In particular, with fewer opportunities for the kind of interactions that used to come naturally from growing up with siblings, children are less able to form and coordinate relationships with others in a variety of situations. This can lead to difficulties adapting to community life and is likely to lead to problems at school and in society.
This would not be a problem if a person lived their entire life with parents who could meet all their needs, but life is about living with people with different personalities, so if a child cannot adapt to community life, they will naturally have problems in school. For this reason, I believe that in the future, there will be many children who cannot adapt well to community life, and if it is severe, they will need special education.
First, children who are overly dependent on their parents, also known as mama boys and mama girls, will need special education. This is often the result of poor parenting by ‘helicopter moms’. Helicopter moms are overprotective moms who hover around their children their entire lives, jumping in and out of the way of their children’s affairs. Unlike in the past, with fewer children and more financial freedom, parents have become overprotective and over-educated, thinking it’s for their children’s good, and this has led to a situation where they plan, manage, and supervise their children’s every move rather than prioritize socializing with friends. In fact, I once knew a helicopter mom in high school whose child would tell her mom about anything that went against her, and the next day her mom would call or come to the school to criticize her teacher or her friends. The child did well in school, but her friendships were poor, and she had no decision-making power to do what she was told. Developmental psychologist Robert Harvey Gerst says that one of the most important things to do in adolescence is to gain emotional independence from parents and other adults. Even in school, which is a small society of mommy-boys and mommy-girls, there is a lack of self-determination and a lack of self-directed life, so I think this child will have problems when he grows up and becomes an adult, so special education should be provided to help him develop social skills and independence.
Secondly, a child who is addicted to TV, smartphones, and games and does not communicate with people and is addicted to them will need special education. Especially smartphones are more dangerous because they are always with us. Nowadays, when people meet their friends, it is common to see them looking at their phones instead of talking to each other, and they often use KakaoTalk or Facebook to have text conversations rather than voice conversations. Also, when dealing with people, there can be stress from human relationships, but with TV and smartphones, it’s a one-way relationship, so you don’t have that stress. Dependence on these devices can become addictive if it becomes severe enough, and it can also lead to maladjustment in school as peer interaction is cut off. Because it’s more fun to play with electronics than it is to hang out with friends, they won’t be interested in their peers, which can lead to problems fitting in as an adult. To correct this early, they need socialization education to get them used to interacting with people.
Third, children’s lack of emotional regulation is also an important issue. In the modern world, there is a strong tendency to seek instant gratification, and children can easily become frustrated if their needs are not met immediately. This is especially true of digital media, such as smartphones and games, which offer fast-paced screens and constant stimulation, making it difficult for children to accept the slower pace of change in the real world. This can make it difficult for children to regulate their emotions, which in the long run can have a negative impact on their school performance and social relationships. Therefore, special education, such as emotion regulation training, is needed to help children deal with their emotions in a healthier way.
There are also financial issues and the fact that not everyone can be selected for special education. For example, a child who simply has ADHD can be pushed to the back of the line for special education, even though he or she may have special needs. She believes that the scope of special education should be broader in the future, and that it should be developed to meet the specific needs of a wide range of children. I also hope that people will realize that everyone has different needs and that special education can be used to help them with those needs. There is also a need to change the perception of parents, teachers, and society as a whole. I want special education to be seen as an opportunity for individualized education for all children, not just those with specific needs. By doing so, our society will be able to meet the needs of a wider range of children and provide them with an environment where they can reach their full potential.
