If someone approached you to enroll your child in a social experiment, would you agree? Probably not. But that is exactly what we have done for the past decade since the introduction of smart phones and tablets. With only a handful of studies on the effects of screens, many of us allow our children so much more hours of screen time than is recommended by American Academy of Pediatrics. We aren’t even sure of the long term effects of daily tablet and smart phone use, and yet statistics show that many of the apps downloaded and 50% of the Netflix accounts are geared towards children. What’s the big deal you might ask. Here we go…
1. Excessive screen time is detrimental to overall health.
Children and adults who spend too much time in front of any type of screen often exercise less. Even if they are not overeating, lack of exercise can lead to obesity. In fact, too much exposure to screens, especially at night, can lead to sleep problems that can lead to obesity, attention, and cognitive issues. Two hours before bedtime, all screens (TV, phones, tablets) need to be turned off and a bedtime routine needs to be established to ensure a good night’s sleep! Children who get a good night’s sleep are more alert, have better processing, and are less likely to gain excessive weight.
2. Giving young children screens can lead to behavior issues.
Have you ever gone to the supermarket with your child, and to prevent a meltdown, given her your smartphone? We all have! But we all know that rewarding bad behavior with a screen is not going to solve anything. In fact, you are more likely to have meltdowns from your children if they think you will give them a tablet or phone each time. What about when you take your child for their annual shots? Some parents like to distract or comfort children with an app or a video on their phone. Although the child might stop crying, think about what they missed. What the child really needed was a warm hug, not an app!
3. Too much screen time can lead to attention issues.
Did you know that ADHD is ten times more prevalent than it was 20 years ago? A study from Iowa State University showed that kids ages 6-12 who spent more than 2 hours in front of a screen were more likely to have attention issues in school. In fact, Demetri Christakis, an expert on children and media consumption, feels the speed and flash of modern video games and TV is a big concern.
Tags: Brain Power, Brainjogging, Creative Thinking, Executive Functioning, Focus, Free Play, kids, Learning Disabilities, Learning Strategies, Sleeping, study strategies, success, Thinking