5 Negative Effects of Excessive Screen time and 5 helpful tips…

Hello again and thanks for checking in!

I know I promised to post something about Pre-departure tips and Student's Travel checklist in my last post but this holiday season has really brought to my attention the amount of time kids spend on screens such as smartphones, tablets and the TV. There are no doubt some benefits in using these devices as they can learn lots of new things but what too much screen time leads to among many others is a variety of missed opportunities for informal learning and development as well as missed opportunities for walking, talking and interacting with others. 

Especially for young children, excessive screen time prevents the brain from rapidly developing new connections and learning from every cue it receives.

It is shocking to know that the American Academy of Pediatrics currently recommends that parents limit screen time for children to a maximum of just TWO hours per day. For younger children, aged 2 to 5, the recommended limit is ONE hour per day watching quality educational programming. Is this really possible? Please let me know in your comments below. 

Surprisingly it's not just kids who are getting too much screen time. Many parents struggle to impose healthy limits on themselves too. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average adult spends over 11 hours per day behind a screen, so it's important to understand how too much screen time could be harming everyone in the whole family. 

Below are 5 Negative effects of excessive screen time on Children...

•   Eating disorders: Either Obesity (over feeding/being overweight) or emaciation (underfeeding) can be caused by too much time engaging in sedentary activity such as watching TV and playing video games.

• ·   Sleep problems/Insomnia: Although many parents use TV to wind down before bed, screen time before bed can backfire. The light emitted from screens interferes with the sleep cycle in the brain and can lead to insomnia. It is said that the blue light from digital devices suppresses the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin, keeping us from having a restful sleep.

•      Behavioral & Educational problems: Research has shown that elementary school-age children who watch TV or use a computer/tablet more than two hours per day are more likely to have emotional, social, and attention problems. Research has also shown that elementary school-age children who have televisions in their bedrooms do worse on academic testing as it leads to less efficient information processing.

•          Vision issues, chronic neck and back pain: Looking at a screen for extended periods of time can cause “computer vision syndrome.” The symptoms are: strained dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches. It could also lead to poor posture when using screens and can cause chronic neck, shoulder and back pain.

•   Violence and other vices: According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, exposure to vices and violent TV shows, movies, music, and video games can cause children to become desensitized to it. Eventually, they may use them to solve problems and may imitate what they see on TV.

However, not all screen time is harmful and here are some 5 tips on making screen more effective and getting children ready for school again... 

• Set Limits: Setting time limits is very important and sticking to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation is good for starters.

• Set Rules: Make clear rules about screen time. For example, no digital devices during family meals, no screen time in the car, no screens allowed in bedrooms, no electronics use during family fun nights among others. Adopt what best suits the family.

• Set the Standard: Be the first example and model what you teach. Set personal healthy limits on your own electronic devices so your child/children can take you seriously.

• ·         Supervise and Engage: Ensure to continually monitor your child’s viewing content. Watch some programmes with them as when parents watch with their children, they can point out interesting things and contribute to language skills and learning. Also, explain to them the effect of excessive screen time on their health and development.

• ·         Support with other recreational activities: Decide an occasional digital detox for the whole family and engage in other family fun activities. Create a screen-free night or day once a week or commit to unplugging one weekend a month. It could be good for everyone's physical and emotional health, as well as your family's relationships.

Till I come your way again,

I remain yours in inspiring educational excellence...

Yejide Akiode 

Credit: Some ideas were sourced from Amy Morin, LCSW (online)