More and more scientific studies reaffirm the negative (even harmful) effects of technology use among children. The American Academy of Pediatrics cites a Scottish Health Survey of 1,500 children, linking an “association between television/screen entertainment viewing time, physical activity levels and psychological distress… including emotional symptoms, conduct problems and peer relationship problems.”
Besides the obvious physical effects of inactivity for children, there are increasing findings of even more serious effects of watching television, video games on tablets and cell phones. Screen time acts as a brain stimulant, with continual images bombarding the growing brain. Children can crave the constant stimulation, leading to more screen time and less time for natural creativity and deep play periods. Children can actually become desensitized to human contact reducing their capacity to be comforted or soothed without the aid of an electronic toy, or similar stimulus.
Recent research also supports that screen time can affect children’s vision as well. “Extended periods of reading or viewing computer screens for sustained periods of time, can promote the progression of myopia at any age” (Vision and Learning, by Judy Chan, O.D., M.S., F.A.A.O, published in Tomorrow’s Child, Sep 2015). This nearsightedness is a result of the eye muscles becoming strained from the close up viewing activity.
So as parents and teachers, what can we do? We should thoughtfully limit our children’s technology time. There is no replacement for positive contact with our children. We can all unplug from our devices and spend time together playing board games, taking walks, being creative, reading together and enjoying each other. Define technology rules for your family such as unplugging at the dinner table or using only approved games or apps. We must also limit technology to help pacify children (keeping them calm or curing the common “I’m bored” times). Children need to be taught how to identify and handle strong emotions or to come up with activities to manage boredom. As parents and educators, we must take the lead and continue to set the boundaries for our children, especially in this digital age.
