The Impact of Parental Dependency and Digital Addiction on Child Development and Solutions for Overcoming Them

This blog post examines the effects of parental dependency and digital addiction on child development and presents the importance and methods of special education to overcome these challenges.

 

As birth rates decline and nuclear families become more common, our society is changing significantly from the past. Because fewer children are born, parents often raise their children with excessive pampering, leading to selfish behavior. Simultaneously, children become accustomed to media like smartphones and TV, resulting in a breakdown of interpersonal communication. These changes are having a significant impact not only on family structures but on society as a whole. Particularly, opportunities for interaction that were naturally formed while growing up with siblings in the past have diminished. Consequently, children are failing to sufficiently acquire the ability to form and coordinate relationships with others in diverse situations. This can lead to difficulties adapting to community life and is highly likely to result in problems at school or in society.
If a person could live their entire life with parents who fulfill all their needs, it might not be a major problem. However, life inherently involves coexisting with people of diverse personalities. If a child cannot adapt to community life, problems in school life will naturally arise. For this reason, I believe that in the future, there will be an increasing number of children who struggle to adapt to community life, and those with severe difficulties may require special education.
First, special education will be necessary for children who are overly dependent on their parents, often called mama’s boys or mama’s girls. This often stems from the flawed parenting style of ‘helicopter moms’. ‘Helicopter moms’ refer to mothers who hover over their children their entire lives, jumping in to handle anything concerning their child and overprotecting them. Unlike in the past, with fewer children and greater economic freedom, parents often overprotect their children, believing it’s for their own good. Driven by excessive educational fervor, they prioritize planning and managing every aspect of their child’s life themselves, often neglecting the importance of social relationships with peers. I personally encountered a helicopter mom during high school. Whenever her child faced even the slightest disadvantage, they would tell their mother. The next day, the mother would call the school or show up in person to harass the homeroom teacher or the child’s friends. While the child excelled academically under their mother’s strict management, they had poor peer relationships and lacked any decision-making autonomy, simply following their mother’s orders. Developmental psychologist Robert H. Gust states that one crucial task during adolescence is achieving emotional independence from parents and other adults. Children like mama’s boys or mama’s girls, who lack self-determination and cannot lead self-directed lives even within the small society of school, may face problems if they grow up this way. Therefore, special education should be provided to foster social skills and independence.
Second, children addicted to TV, smartphones, or games who avoid interpersonal communication also require special education. Smartphones, in particular, pose greater risks due to their constant portability. Observing people today, it’s common to see friends meeting without conversing, each staring at their phones instead. Verbal communication is often replaced by text-based chats via KakaoTalk or Facebook. Furthermore, interacting with people can bring relationship-related stress, whereas TV and smartphones offer one-way engagement, allowing enjoyment without such stress. Excessive dependence on these devices can lead to addiction. Disrupted peer communication may cause maladjustment in school life. Since using electronic devices is perceived as more enjoyable than spending time with friends, children may lose interest in socializing with peers. Consequently, they may face difficulties adapting to communities even as adults. To correct this early, social skills education is necessary to help children become accustomed to human interaction.
Third, children’s lack of emotional regulation skills is also emerging as a significant problem. In modern society, the tendency to pursue instant gratification is strong, making children prone to frustration when their desires aren’t immediately fulfilled. This is particularly influenced by digital media like smartphones and games, which provide rapidly changing screens and constant stimulation, making it difficult for children to accept the slower pace of change in real life. Consequently, children struggle with emotional regulation, and these issues can negatively impact their school adjustment and social relationship formation in the long term. Therefore, special education, such as emotional regulation training, is necessary to help children manage their emotions more healthily.
Financial constraints and the selective nature of eligibility often lead to frustration in the special education identification process. For instance, children with ADHD alone, who clearly require special education, may be pushed to the back of the queue during the identification process. I believe the scope of special education must expand in future education, evolving into an educational approach that meticulously addresses the diverse, specific needs of various children. Furthermore, while some may view special education recipients negatively, I hope society comes to accept that everyone has different needs, and if assistance is required, it should be provided through specialized education. A shift in perception is also needed among parents, teachers, and society at large. I hope special education is recognized not merely as something needed only for children with specific challenges, but as an opportunity for all children to receive individualized education. By doing so, our society can better meet the diverse needs of children and provide an environment where they can maximize their potential.

 

About the author

Writer

I'm a "Cat Detective" I help reunite lost cats with their families.
I recharge over a cup of café latte, enjoy walking and traveling, and expand my thoughts through writing. By observing the world closely and following my intellectual curiosity as a blog writer, I hope my words can offer help and comfort to others.