How We Can Use Tech to Help Children Heal
Mental health has become a more prominent topic of interest and concern in the past few years, and its effect on people and their daily lives is receiving more attention and care. These are great strides that are crucial for ensuring the overall wellness of people, but children’s mental health isn’t always noticed. There’s a common misconception that younger people don’t have much to worry about compared to adults, which leads to their mental health struggles being downplayed or ignored. Depression, anxiety, trauma, and suicidal thoughts are just some of the many issues kids are experiencing today. And even though the Covid-19 pandemic has declined, its effect on children has left them isolated and grieving, heightening the mental health challenges they were already facing.
Fortunately, children’s mental health is gaining more of a spotlight now than ever, and various solutions, services, and support have been helping children process their challenges. Technology has also provided more avenues for guiding young people toward treatment and healing. The easy access to devices and kids’ affinity for them has made them valuable resources and tools for mental health. Here are some ways tech is changing the mental health landscape for kids:
Providing Companionship
Companionship is an essential aspect of healing, and support from others gives children the ability to confide in someone. However, kids may want time alone or be uncomfortable with being with others for too long. As such, technology can help fill these gaps and offer additional support for children. Some of the best robot pets for kids available in the market today are designed to mimic the features, habits, and looks of real-life cats and dogs. These AI-powered computers give their owners lifelong companions, allowing kids who cannot care for living pets to enjoy the same emotional benefits. Some of these robot pets do resemble actual robots, so kids who may not be interested in pets might enjoy a robotic companion.
Moreover, these robot pets can offer more than just companionship and fun; playing with them can help children develop different skills like creativity, communication, and logic. They can use their imagination to play with the pet in various ways and scenarios. To make the most of a robot pet’s exciting features, kids need to interact with their pet, talking and playing with it to make it respond well. This requires the child to word their commands properly—if the robot pet responds to voice commands—and handle them with care to help the pet carry out actions. Kids will also have to figure out how to command their pets to perform a specific activity, exercising problem-solving skills. They can achieve a sense of accomplishment by figuring out the pet’s controls while developing motor skills.
Learning more about their robot pets and observing their actions can evoke joy and amusement, allowing them to find happy moments during their healing process. These devices may seem like simple toys, but having a “friend” who brings joy and creates an environment free of judgment can be an essential step toward healing. Developing crucial skills through playing with tech like robot pets can also help them navigate their mental and behavioral health as they grow older and learn more about themselves and their minds.
As adults, we are used to leveraging technology as a tool for productivity. However, we underestimate its potential for care and healing. Robot pets are just one of the many examples where technology can meet a truly human need – companionship, comfort, and healing.
– Maya Franklin
