Prepare Essay: Discussing a Topic of Interest, Grade 7 Literature, Connecting Knowledge with Life

- Introduction: Introduce the issue and present your viewpoint on the issue. 

- Development: 

+ State the causes and current situation of the issue (with examples). 

+ Discuss the impact/consequences of the issue on life (with examples). 

+ Propose some solutions for the raised issue. 

- Conclusion: Summarize the cognitive lessons and actions after discussing the issue. 

In the era of Industry 4.0, technology has become an indispensable part of life. Children today have been exposed to technology from a very young age through electronic devices: TVs, phones, computers, etc. What are the reasons, current situation, benefits, drawbacks, and solutions to this issue? 

Firstly, let's examine the reasons children use technology: Firstly, due to the advancement of science and technology, technological products are increasingly developed with various features and attractive forms, arousing children's curiosity. Secondly, the convenience of using scientific and technological devices in learning. Thirdly, busy parents have less time to supervise their children due to work commitments. 

From the above reasons, we can observe the current situation of children's technology use. Children as young as two to three years old often watch advertisements and cartoons while eating. Older children, driven by curiosity and a desire for exploration, often access websites to play games. They also use electronic devices for learning and to track their academic progress, with online learning platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc., being notable examples.

The benefits and drawbacks of children using technology: In terms of benefits, electronic devices with numerous outstanding features help children quickly access information from various sources. Technological devices provide entertainment for children after stressful hours of studying, … However, children using technological devices also have drawbacks: Firstly, it affects their health. Prolonged exposure to technological devices can lead to decreased eyesight, reduced flexibility of limbs. Secondly, it affects psychology and personality. Regular use of technological products often leads some children to develop difficult-to-break psychological 'addictions', or to pester adults to borrow phones.

To address this situation, we need solutions such as: Managing the time children spend using technological devices each day, encouraging children to exercise, and spend more time outdoors. The above sharing helps everyone have a more comprehensive view of children's use of technological devices. Let's be ready to change to help children use electronic devices properly and effectively.

Each of us is born as a unique individual, each person will have different opinions, personalities, and habits, even children also need to receive the listening and understanding of adults. So, have adults truly listened to and understood children?

For children, adults often have a protective mentality, wanting children to follow their own directions and thinking that their chosen direction is the best for children. If children express their opinions, they are often considered 'smarter than ducks', 'higher than bamboo shoots', 'young old man'. The indifference of adults has inadvertently caused children to develop negative psychology or made children feel inferior, hesitant to express their opinions because adults listen and then 'leave it there'.

In reality, when parents can understand and listen to their children, their children will have a healthy soul, developing both physically and mentally. Conversely, if a common voice and close relationship with parents cannot be built, children may find it difficult to find happiness. In the book 'Infinitely Cruel, Infinitely Loving', author Sara Imas pointed out that: By the age of 12, if children cannot build a close relationship with their parents, then in the following years of life, children will feel insecure and find it difficult to find happiness in adult relationships. A child with a talent for the arts, dreaming of standing on stage and singing their own song, will be hindered by books and exercises, unintentionally stifling the child's dream. Or a child who enjoys sports, parents cannot force the child to give up their dream because of their own bias that playing sports will not excel in cultural subjects. If adults do not listen, do not converse, and do not respect children's opinions, they will not understand the children's confessions, aspirations, and as such, over time, both sides will inadvertently create distance in their relationship.

To be able to listen to and understand children, adults need to maintain a relaxed mentality, be ready to share issues with children in a friendly tone, and show loving actions: participating in sports together, reading books together,... However, due to the burden of making a living, adults may overlook care and attention, so children also need to actively communicate with adults to help them reduce work pressure and understand their thoughts.