Whether children should use electronic products is a question of concern for many parents.

According to a survey, 60 percent of teenagers think their friends are addicted to smartphones and 33 percent would rather communicate with their friends online than meet them face to face.

A healthy body and sound brain are the basis for innovative talent. Unfortunately, excessive use of electronic products may lead to memory degradation, headaches and sleep disorders in children. The fragmented information and short videos which bombard children every day may affect their ability to think independently, while easy access to information may damage their desire to explore, as curiosity and the desire to learn are the essential qualities for innovative people. Moreover, as many children are used to social networking online, they may become shy in real life and lose the ability to participate in teamwork, which is an important quality today.

However, as every coin has two sides, the Internet also has its bright side. It has transcended geographical restrictions to enable children anywhere to access the best educational resources. All kinds of homework apps have also increased interactions between students and teachers online.

Schools and parents should therefore give proper guidance to children in using electronic products in order for them to be useful study aids.

(This is an edited excerpt of an article originally published in People's Daily on May 16)