By Srijana S., Class 12 Student

My childhood at Jhamtse Gatsal has been very different from other children of my age. I grew up in a remote community in the northeastern Himalayas in India away from the constant influence of technology. At Jhamtse Gatsal, we don’t get a cell phone until we leave The Community for higher studies.

You may feel that this may seem like that my childhood was boring and deprived; it was actually quite the opposite! My friends and I spent most of our time going on walks, making up games with rocks and pebbles, reading books and so on. I remember climbing trees in the forest jungle, jumping in puddles and playing with my friends with whatever Mother Nature provided us. Besides this, adults kept us engaged in activities like gardening, doing our family and community chores, etc. Somehow, I never felt  like I was missing out on anything just because I didn’t have a cell phone. Honestly, I was so busy with nature and being with people that I didn’t notice the absence of technology.  

The truth is that cell phones are like drugs to for our children. They become a habit and can be an addiction when if used frequently. Children are are unwittingly drawn to the constantly moving images and vibrant colours. But this, in turn, impairs their ability to concentrate on anything that is less engaging. Simple things tasks like eating, reading, being with people, etc. become mundane activities that they children are can no longer able to focus on without the added distraction. 

Through my personal experience, it is my heartfelt request to humbly urge to to all of you parents and young adults my age to choose to make an effort to avoid using cell phones as a distraction for your children. Talk to each other, play with together, and love your time together, but don’t use technology to distract yourselves or the young ones. Teach them how to handle their emotions and moods from a very young age. Teach them to handle and manage themselves. We must remember that the decisions you we make today will impact the lives of your children tomorrow.