By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

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We are raising children in an era where the internet and high-tech gadgets reign supreme. Tablets, smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs have taken over the homes and minds of today’s young generation. While these tools are undeniably powerful and beneficial when used wisely, they also come with profound consequences, particularly on children’s reading culture and academic performance.

Raising children in a high-tech world is no mean task, but it is not impossible. It requires time, effort and consistent engagement. Most importantly, it requires love and a deep commitment to shaping responsible, thoughtful, and literate individuals.

The Decline of Reading Habits

Once upon a time, the best gift for a child was a storybook. Children looked forward to flipping pages, discovering new adventures, and expanding their vocabulary. Fast forward to the digital age, and even toddlers can navigate YouTube better than they can hold a crayon. Reading for pleasure has taken a back seat, replaced by addictive screen time that offers instant gratification without the mental effort required for reading.

This growing aversion to books is deeply worrisome. Reading develops focus, imagination, empathy and critical thinking skills essential for academic success. Without a strong foundation in reading, students struggle with comprehension, vocabulary, and analytical writing. The ripple effect is evident in mass failures in examinations, especially in core subjects.

Digital Addiction and Its Impact

It is not uncommon to find a five-year-old who can operate a smart device with ease, yet struggles with basic arithmetic or sentence construction. This is because many children now consume digital content passively rather than engage with intellectually stimulating material. Educational apps can be helpful, but most children are drawn more to entertainment like cartoons, games and social media than to learning tools.

Even more alarming is the ease with which children access inappropriate or dangerous contents. With a phone or tablet in hand, a child can disappear into a virtual world where parents have little or no control.

The Evolving Roles of Parents

In this digital age, parenting requires more than providing shelter and food. It demands vigilance, technological awareness, and intentional guidance. Unfortunately, many parents are either too busy, overwhelmed or unfamiliar with modern gadgets to provide the needed oversight.

The first step for parents is to establish authority. This means setting clear rules on when, where and how digital devices are used. Screens should be kept out of bedrooms, and usage time should be regulated. Children must also understand the dangers of sharing personal information online and the long term consequences of posting inappropriate content.

Parents should model good digital behaviour. If a child sees a parent reading books, they are more likely to follow suit. Create family reading hours, encourage trips to the library, and provide age-appropriate books at home.

Beyond academics, parents must use their influence to teach values and life skills. Discussions around good hygiene, abstaining from harmful habits like smoking or drug use, and maintaining healthy relationships are critical. These conversations are best held offline, in safe, open environments where trust and openness thrive.

Importantly, parents must learn to distinguish between wants and needs when it comes to providing gadgets. Buying the latest smartphone or gaming console might make a child happy temporarily, but without boundaries, it may do more harm than good. Every digital gift should come with expectations and limitations.

A Guidance Counsellor, Mrs Adetola Famuyide, in a chat with Weekend Hope noted that she interacts daily with students who are struggling, not because they lack intelligence, but because they have become too dependent on technology and too disconnected from foundational learning habits like reading, reflection and critical thinking.

She said:”I say this with urgency and care: we must strike a balance between embracing technology and preserving the core values that support academic success and character development.

“Parents should model good habits. Let your child see you reading. Set aside time each day for family reading or discussions. Children emulate what they see more than what they’re told. Designate tech-free hours at home, especially during meals, study time and bedtime. Keep gadgets out of bedrooms to ensure healthy sleep habits.

“Know what they’re doing online. Install parental controls, check browser history, and have open conversations about what they watch or engage in. The goal is not to spy, but to protect. Encourage a balanced life by involving your children in offline activities like sports, music or volunteering. The more they experience life beyond the screen, the more complete their development. Celebrate your child’s commitment to reading, effort in schoolwork and positive character traits. These build lasting confidence.”

Mrs Famuyide also advised children to read every day,whether it is fiction, non-fiction, newspapers or poetry, stating that reading opens the mind, sharpens thinking and improves language skills.

“Children should drastically limit social media and online games, which may seem fun but eat up time that should be spent learning or resting. Learn to put the phone down when it’s time to focus.

“Ask questions, seek help. If you’re struggling in school, don’t hide. Talk to your teachers or a counsellor. Sometimes, all you need is a little guidance and structure.”

“We are not anti-technology, but we must be pro-balance. Reading develops the brain, while uncontrolled screen time can dull it.