Parents take the ‘smart’ route to motivate kids

Parents take the ‘smart’ route to motivate kids

TNN | Jun 7, 2015, 03.21AM IST
Times of India Trichy


TRICHY/ CHENNAI: Gone are the days when scoring well in exams earned you a watch, shoes or at the most a bicycle. In the age of latest gizmos, parents promise nothing less than smart phones, tabs and highend bicycles if their children manage to clear the first hurdle of their life with flying colours.

R Manoharan from Trichy bought his son a smart phone when he scored 492 marks in his Class 10 exams. "As a father it is my responsibility to fulfill my son's wishes especially when he has kept his part of the deal and done well in the exam," he said. Needless to say the 15-year-old was enthused and excited about his new gift. "The smart phone is a necessity these days and it is not for showing off but to have the entire world at your fingertip," said Manoharan. Many parents say they have actually been able to encourage their children with the promise of a costly gift.

But psychologists and academicians are not much in favour of the trend. "More than a gadget, parents should ensure that their children have enough relaxation in the post-exam days. They can take them for a vacation or even to some nice picnic spot instead of letting them be holed up in the room with their laptops or smart phones," said former vice-principal of KAPVGMC, Trichy, Dr MA Aleem.





Many councellors say that having a smartphone doesn't ensure more knowledge especially at such a young age. "Children do not know how to use a smart phone for their own good and the gift may end up harming them," said motivational counsellor Paul Guna Loganath, Trichy.

Promise of expensive gifts can also act as distraction as in the case of 15- year- old David D'Souza (name changed) from a state board school in Chennai whose parents promised him a high-speed bike provided he fared well in his board exams. He was in Class 11 and the boy could not focus on his studies. Every time he opened his books, he could only dream of his bike, visualize its colour and make and failed to concentrate on his studies. He had to seek help of a counsellor to bring back his concentration. "The gift, meant to motivate him, ended up being his biggest distraction before exam," says adolescent physician and paediatrician, Dr S Yamuna.

Many parents are of the opinion that smart gifts can be given only if they are used under parental supervision. Sam Daniels, a media personality, gifted his daughter a smart phone after her Class 10 results and even shared the news on his social networking site. "For children a cell phone is a must these days, especially because they go out for tuitions and other classes. I have not activated 3G pack on my daughter's phone and she is allowed to use only the wifi at home. We keep an eye on the sites she browses and she is not allowed to keep the phone switched on at night." Daniels acknowledges that excessive use of gizmos may be detrimental but a costly gift doesn't mean unlimited access and the trick lies in maintaining that balance, he feels.

Psychologists, however, say that expressing emotion, hugging and kissing children for studying, encourage them more to strive harder towards their goals than any latest gadget ever will.