Tech Addiction in Children: Navigating Screen Time in the Digital Age
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By PAGE Editor
Today’s digital landscape presents a reality where children are exposed to an ever-expanding array of online platforms, from social media to gaming apps and even iGaming platforms. While there’s an underlying need to embrace tech given the times we are living in, a good balance needs to be stricken between embracing modernity and ensuring our kids grow up healthy.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization, there needs to be set standards for the optimal physical, mental, and social health capacity of infants, children, and adolescents. According to the two aforementioned organizations, the recommendations for screen time usage based on age are as follows.
Child Age
Recommended Guideline
Notes
0-18 months
No device time
Video chatting is an exception
18 months-2 years
Little to no digital gadget time
Co-watch high-quality, educational content
3-5 years
Under 1 hour per day
Co-watch to help your kids to understand what they are viewing
Show them interactive media
6-10 years
Under 1.5 hours per day
Institute regular limits on the usage of media
Make sure that screen time doesn’t affect sleep time or any other routine
11-13 years
Under 2 hours per day
Teach the child how to balance media use
As you can see, there are a lot of guidelines that parents overlook when it comes to their children’s digital time. That said, it’s never too late to start.
Before you enforce the recommendations from the WHO, the AAP, or any other Polish agency for that matter, make sure you learn the reasons behind this move.
Cons of Screen Use for Children
While we’re starting with the negatives, it is imperative to point out that it isn’t all doom and gloom when it comes to letting your child access media either on TV, on the phone, laptop, or any other device. For starters, sleep is the highest con for media use among many children. Children need lots of sleep with the rest acting as a building block for development. Research has found that many kids do not get the required amount of sleep. One of the biggest contributors to a lack of adequate sleep among kids is the extended use of screens beyond what is recommended.
Another key risk is aggression. With so many videos of physical confrontations spread on the Internet today, children have viewed acts of violence so much that they become desensitized to it. This plays to their psychology, and the children start to normalize violent behavior, which in turn leads to them having less empathy and overall less emotional intelligence.
For toddlers and infants, research has proven that extended digital time may lead to delays in language development. Kids of this age need to face interaction and get feedback from these interactions. Viewing gadgets will unfortunately not provide this and highly limits your child’s capacity for normal speech development.
Pros of Visual Interfaces for Kids
As we mentioned before, there are some positives to screen time. These gadgets represent a good opportunity for learning and growth among kids. When used the right way, media will serve as an extension of learning environments and will nurture a child’s critical thinking abilities.
Leverage learning apps that you can find all over the Internet. There are also so many educational YouTube videos that you’ll find online that will be beneficial for the overall educational development of your child. So, you, as a parent, are responsible for discovering good content for your child. Next time, spend 30 minutes less playing your favorite online slots and other casino games on online casino platforms like the Spin City Casino and devote this half an hour to finding useful material for your child.
Screens also help parents, especially those who work far from home, to maintain bonds with their kids. Video calls bring the family closer, with the children experiencing love even from distant relatives like cousins, grandparents, aunts, or uncles.
Practical Tips to Prevent Tech Addiction in Children
As you navigate the digital landscape with your younger ones, you must set in place practical strategies to ensure that the children are not addicted to technology and ultimately lead a balanced lifestyle. Here are some tips you can use:
Set screen time limits: Using the guide from the World Health Organization, you can enforce reasonable but strict timelines on the usage of tech devices for your children.
Enforce digital-free zones and times: To prevent digital addiction, you can set specific areas where these gadgets won’t be allowed to be used. This might be the dining room or the bedroom. Additionally, you can set aside specific times when digital gadgets can’t be used at home. This might be during the day.
Craft structured routines: With a balanced schedule that encompasses creative play, physical activities, and limited screen time, you have a well-rounded routine that emphasizes the importance of moderation to the young ones.
Promote Hobbies: Encourage non-screen related activities that your kid can do, like sports, art, and music. This will ensure well-rounded development and less dependency on digital devices to have fun.
Forster Healthy Digital Habits
As you embark on this journey to foster healthier digital habits for your young ones, remember to exercise patience. It might take some time for the kids to get used to these routines, especially if they were highly exposed to extended screen times before. That said, just stick to the plan, and in no time, you’ll have a healthier and more active child.
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