Everyone has seen it.You are having lunch at a restorant and then you notice a family with their children.The children are quiet but it`s not because they are eating or they are well educated.It is because their attention is focused to some sort of electonic device.
If a parent uses tablets, phones, or computers to keep their child engaged, they may come to lean on these devices instead of being a hands-on parent . that`s why we will show youwhat screen time can do to your children.
Screen time wasn’t always a problem. Before the invention of smartphones and tablets, television was the only thing kids could watch. With all their daily activities, it was uncommon for kids to spend more than a little bit of time with a screen at any given time. However, statistics have shown that most kids spend hours in front of various screens every day.
This can be very harmful, especially during the first three years of a child’s life. The American Association of Pediatricians does not recommend any screen time prior to the age of two, but by the age of two, 90% of kids watch television regularly.The screen time increases with the child’s age.
The effects are clear, once you look at today’s teenagers. They often have difficulty communicating in real life.Look at a group of teenagers and you’ll see that most, if not all, are on their phones, rather than paying attention to each other.
Screens At Every Turn
Electronic devices are available at every corner. This is part of their danger. Every home has multiples televisions, smartphones, tablets, and laptops, making it incredibly easy for a kid to have access to a screen whenever they want. To make things worse, many manufacturers are catering to increased screen time by producing kid-friendly tablets and devices.
When a child has their own device and their access to it is not restricted, they may take in far more media than what is appropriate.
What Screen Time Does to a Child’s Brain
Educational TV and games are a hoax when you’re talking about babies and toddlers. Kids at this age can’t get anything from educational material delivered inelectronic form.They’re better off learning from hands-on play and reading.
Children are better off interacting with caregivers or other people the vast majority of the time, instead of sitting in front of some electronic device. They’re designed to learn from human interaction, which is taken away from them when they learn from screens.When your child is staring at a screen, their attention span, verbal skills and emotional development may be suffering.
These effects can last deep into their school years, making it difficult for them to learn appropriately in school, pay attention, and build strong emotional connections.Limiting your kids’ screen time can be difficult, but in the long term, it can pay off in many different ways.
Next time you want to hand your child a device to help them calm down, try a book or conversation instead.