Digital Habits in Children - To Allow or Not Allow Screen time?
Should young children be allowed to watch tv???
Good morning friends! As a Dad, I have been spending time researching and thinking about how to balance the role of screen time in my children’s life. I know it can help them learn things and it can give us a much needed break sometimes, but I also have seen that too much of it can be detrimental.
Here is what I learned…
👶 The big challenge
Establishing digital balance early on is crucial to ensure children’s healthy development and promote well-rounded experiences. The earlier we start building good habits the easier it will be later on. As the saying goes, it is easier to build good habits than break bad ones.
When we are born, some parts of our brain start working and developing early. These parts help us with basic things like seeing, hearing, and touching. But there are other parts of our brain that help us with more advanced skills like talking, thinking, understanding different things at the same time, and reading. These parts take a longer time to fully develop.
To help these advanced parts of the brain grow properly, we need good and positive experiences in our home environment. This means things like face to face interaction, talking with our family, playing games, solving puzzles, and reading books together. These activities give our brain the stimulation it needs to grow and become better at doing these important skills.
🔍 How do most parents solve it? Parents tend to go to extremes - either no screens at all…or screen addiction. But research shows risks like delays in language and social skills, depression, poor sleep and academics. I have personally seen the tantrums when I take the phone away from my son!
❌ Why doesn't it work for them? From a parent’s point of view: Parenting can be isolating and exhausting without a strong support network. When we lack that village of help, many overwhelmed parents resort to screens as the default babysitter. I'm guilty of this too! At first it was just 5 minutes of TV to occupy my toddler. Soon he was addicted - screaming when we took it away after 20 minutes, like a baby orangutan separated from its mother.
From a child’s point of view: While avoidance seems like a logical solution, it may not equip children with the necessary skills to navigate the digital landscape as they grow older. Technology will inevitably play a significant role in their lives, so striking a balance and teaching responsible usage is essential.
🔍 Why is screen time considered bad for child development?
Limited real-world experiences: Excessive screen time can restrict opportunities for children to engage in physical activities, imaginative play, and face-to-face interactions. These real-world experiences are essential for developing physical, cognitive, social, and emotional skills.
Impaired social and emotional development: Spending too much time in front of screens may hinder the development of social skills, emotional regulation, and empathy. Face-to-face interactions and non-verbal communication are vital for fostering healthy relationships and building strong social connections.
Reduced physical activity: Excessive screen time often leads to a sedentary lifestyle, replacing physical play and outdoor exploration. Insufficient physical activity can contribute to health issues like obesity, weakened muscles, and decreased overall fitness.
Disrupted sleep patterns: Screen time, particularly before bedtime, can interfere with sleep quality and quantity. The blue light emitted by screens suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep, making it harder for children to fall asleep and obtain adequate rest.
Impacted attention span and cognitive development: Extended exposure to fast-paced and highly stimulating screen content can negatively affect a child's attention span, concentration, and ability to engage in sustained and focused activities. It may also impact cognitive development, including language skills, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking.
Content influence: Unregulated screen time can expose children to inappropriate or violent content, which may influence their behavior, attitudes, and worldview in negative ways. Young minds are highly impressionable, and exposure to age-inappropriate content can lead to confusion, anxiety, or the adoption of undesirable behaviors.
🚀 How can we solve it differently? Let's explore a balanced approach that embraces technology as a tool for learning and growth while fostering healthy boundaries and digital literacy.
📝 Recommended action step(s) for new parents or parents with children under five:
📱 Embrace intentional usage: Introduce your child to age-appropriate, interactive educational apps and digital resources. Use technology as a tool to enhance learning experiences, such as counting games or interactive storybooks.
🧑🤝🧑 Engage together: When exploring technology with your child, participate actively. Co-view and co-play to promote engagement and understanding. Encourage interaction and discussion about what they see and experience on the screen.
⏰ Set screen time routines: Establish consistent screen time routines from the beginning. Keep it brief, around 10-15 minutes at a time, and gradually increase as your child grows. Ensure that screen time doesn't replace crucial activities like physical play, face-to-face interactions, and sleep.
Table of organizations, age groups, and their recommended screen time guidelines:
🌈 Encourage multi-sensory experiences: Promote a well-rounded childhood by incorporating a variety of sensory-rich activities. Encourage tactile play, exploring textures and shapes, engaging in outdoor adventures, and creative hands-on experiences alongside digital interactions.
👩👦 Be a role model: Model healthy digital behavior by practicing digital balance yourself. Limit your own screen time when interacting with your child. Demonstrate the importance of face-to-face communication and offline bonding moments.
How do you balance technology in your children’s lives?