In today’s technology-driven world, the effects of excessive screen time on the brain are becoming a major concern for children’s development. However, this is when the human brain undergoes critical development and growth. Therefore, parents and child development experts are concerned about how screen time impacts these developmental processes.
The recommended screen time by The American Academy of Pediatrics is less than 2 hours per day for children older than two.
Technology is great and can do many things, but it is important to remember that spending too much time looking at screens can be bad for our kid’s health.
Rich, the director of the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children’s Hospital, explains: “We have to be flexible enough to evolve with the technology but choose how to use it right. Fire was a great discovery to cook our food, but we had to learn it could hurt and kill as well.”
Well, fret not. This blog explores the impact of screen time on children’s cognitive, emotional, and physical health, and offers helpful tips on how to strike a healthy balance.
How Excessive Screen Time Affects the Brain
It is essential to understand the development of children’s brains in order to fully grasp the impact of screen time.
According to Harvard Medical School(HMS) researchers, the brain constantly develops billions of new neural connections during childhood as the older ones get destroyed. For this process, an extensive range of online and offline experiences is required to stimulate the brain. However, too much screen time provides an environment that is not stimulating enough.
Rich further explains why children get addicted to screen time by comparing it to what gambling does to the brain. He claims that video games and social media work on a “variable reward system” that keeps you hooked to the screen.
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Understanding the Effects of Screen Time on Children’s Development
Excessive screen time has significant effects on the brain, which leads to a range of developmental problems. Below are some of the most concerning ways prolonged screen exposure can impact a child’s health:
Sleep Disruption
The researchers at HMS report that the blue light being emitted from screens disrupts sleep patterns. This is because it interrupts the release of melatonin, which is essential for a good night’s sleep.
Without getting deep Rapid eye movement(REM) sleep, children’s brains lack the opportunity to perform essential developmental processes. Additionally, it also negatively impacts essential functions like memory and information retention.
Obesity
The more your children are sitting in front of a screen, the less physical activity they get. This puts them at a greater risk for obesity. Additionally, they may also be influenced by the ads they see online for junk food and fast food, putting them at a greater risk of developing an addiction.
ADHD
According to Michael Manos, the director of the ADHD Center for Evaluation and Treatment at the Cleveland Clinic, children exposed to more than 2 hours of screen time per day are 8 times more likely to develop attention-related problems, including ADHD.
This is because devices make our brains used to instant gratification, making it harder to focus on things that are not as motivating as what is presented on social media and games.
Behavioral Problems
Children exposed to excessive screen time have more behavioral problems than average kids. This is because of a lack of social and communication skills, conflict-resolution skills, and meaningful relationships, as well as a negative self-perception built by social media.
Ways to Minimize Excessive Screen Time Effects on Brain Function
For healthy development in children, maintaining a healthy balance is key. Here are a few tips to help with that:
Setting Time Limits
Establish portions of the day when devices and the internet are completely off-limits. Moreover, communicate these time limits with your children clearly and encourage them to use this time for playing outside and interacting with other children.
Do Not Eat In Front of a Device
Kids these days have this habit of eating in front of devices. Well, this habit of eating in front of the screen not only increases screen time but also creates unhealthy eating patterns.
Make compulsory eating at the table with family so that children can focus on their food and have healthy interactions.
Record Programs to Watch Later
A helpful tip to impose screen time limits is to record the programs your children watch so they can be watched later at the time of your choice. This will also eliminate all the advertisements that negatively influence children’s behaviors.
Play Video Games with Your Children
Forbidding video games is not always the best idea. A better way to create healthy habits is to play them with your children so you can not only monitor their activity but also stimulate their brains with active interaction.
Practice What You Preach
Remember that you are your child’s biggest influence. When they see you put down your device, they will be more likely to follow suit.
Key Takeaways
Extensive research has shown that excessive screen time negatively impacts the brain growth and development of children. Balancing screen time and encouraging alternative activities is key to healthy development. Everyone needs to be aware of the impact of screen time as well as their role in creating healthy environments for children to grow in.
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