From the author: Interview for a children's forum My son is 5 years old. And now I am very concerned about the presence of gadgets in his life. Gadgets have become an integral part of all areas of our activities. But do they provide the development the child needs or do they distract him more from useful activities? Natalya Nikolaevna Oberderfer, head of the Rhapsody Center for Psychology and Continuing Education, Astana, helped me figure this out. Certified doctor (Akmola State Medical Academy, specialty - pediatrician) and psychologist (Modern Humanitarian Academy, specialty - psychologist; Erickson University International, specialty - neuro-linguistic programming, master). Specializes in individual and family counseling. – What do psychologists think: are gadgets useful or harmful for children? – I can’t speak for all psychologists. Information has always been the main tool and resource for survival. The one who has more information is more effective in life. A gadget can become harmful if used without a sense of proportion. Of course, virtual communication will never replace live communication, although it has its benefits. In the virtual space, a person understands what he would like to be, reveals his hidden potentials, which can be trained and used in reality, and masters new skills. – At what age can a child start using gadgets? – From about 1 year. Let him keep up with the times. A child already at 3-4 years old feels quite confident in games, and at 6-7 years old he easily masters the Internet. – Are there restrictions on the time of day: when can you be allowed to use gadgets, and when not? What should be the duration of use? – Everything that causes interest, excitement, excitement (games and information on the Internet) is stress, which is useful in a moderate dose. Anything that causes arousal will not be appropriate before bed. Until the age of three, a child should use gadgets no more than an hour a day, and only 20 minutes in a row, then another 20 minutes after a break, also no less than 20 minutes, etc. Adults must clearly monitor whether this regime is violated and gently switch the child’s attention to something else. You should not allow your child to play on a tablet while eating, doing schoolwork, or talking with adults. In all these cases, gadgets must be put away. Otherwise, the child’s real interaction with other people will be replaced by virtual interaction. There is already a whole problem: children come to visit each other with gadgets - and instead of communicating directly, everyone sits with their own device, through which their interaction occurs. – What is it desirable to “stuff” the gadget so that it becomes useful for the child’s development? – Any positive information. There are games for preschoolers that will help them learn to read, count, and learn colors. Gadgets make it possible to quickly find information and learn, and communicate with any person on the globe. Teach your child to write and send letters, chat, call someone, use video calling, and draw in special programs. Gadgets carry a large number of useful opportunities that people did not have before. – It is clear that a reasonable parent will not buy a cruel game with violent elements for their child, but today even first-graders can download such shooting games on the Internet... – We cannot isolate our children from society, but we can be a personal example for the child. How a person grows up depends approximately 30% on genes, 30% on society, the environment where he grows up and 30% on upbringing in the family. – How should a parent behave in this situation, when a child likes “hard games” (with shootouts, for example)? – You can wish parents to use their 30% in full, because many do not do this. In order for a child to develop along the right path, parents need to indicate it. Actively participate in the child’s life, help him develop his hobbies and.