The Cost of Quiet
I have known for a longtime the damage increased screen time has done to young children. While sitting in a class the other day I heard something that turned a light bulb on as they one of the biggest whys behind this subject. Things on a screen changes every 15 seconds. This is the addictive part of screen usage.
I know a lot of parent’s blames the covid pandemic on their children’s lack of ability to concentrate or socialize but it may be directly related to increase screen time. Increased screen time is known to cause sleep problems, obesity, decreased ability to socialize, learning problems we well as emotional health issues.
The sleep problems are due to the overload on the brain screen time provides a child. That stimulus can be shown to cause children not falling asleep easily, wanting to stay up later and causing problems during sleep time routine. There should be a bedtime routine.
Routines help children know what to expect, help them feel safe and allows them to have control in that routine. Screen should be limited in the evenings to prevent this over stimulus. Bathing, book time and daily reflection talks are a great way to engage with your children in the evenings and some ways to eliminate screen time at night. Children need between 9-12 hours a sleep a night to health, brain development and to help with mood regulation.
The obesity problem associated with the screen time is as children are less physically active. Children need a minimum of one hour of moderate to vigorous activity daily. The sedentary nature screen time gives children can cause increase snacking, increase weight and mood regulation issues.
Research has shown an increase in sedentary lifestyle can cause blood glucose irregularity. Health and physical activity are very important for overall health, brain development and the prevention of adult obesity and chronic illness.
Social emotional health is very important. If as a society we do not focus on positive social emotional health, we end up with young adults that cannot manage their emotion and behaviors. Increase screen time that constant changing stimulus does not allow children to build up stamina to interact alone or with others as they are always looking for that constant and direct stimulus.
This is very similar to any addictive state. Children need to learn to play with self and others and interact in positive and patient ways. Screen time is a solitary activity and does not teach interaction skills. We have seen an increase in the inability to be patient with friend or even play age appropriately. This very well could be associated with the increase of screen time and children seeking that constant stimulus.
Learning problems associated with screen time is associated with children not watching quality learning programming. Even if a program is of high-quality education, it does not mean it is ok for children to have increase screen time. Even if it is quality information, it is information overload. Information on screen going to child, nothing reciprocating.
When interacting with children whether it is a parent, or a teacher there needs to be quality interaction. Questions ask, opinions asked, thought provoking conversation. All these things do not happen when children are on screens. Another thing that does not happen when children are on screens is playing. Through play children learn language, self help skills, sharing, interactions skills, cognitive skills, and physical skills.
This last year we have seen children behind in almost all developmental domains. Could this be because of the pandemic? Or is it from increase screen time, decrease physical activity and lack of child to child and child to adult interactions?
There may never be an answer or an answer that makes everyone happy. But to sum it up children need decent sleep, physical education, healthy diets, and the ability to interact with other children and create meaningful relationships with the people in their lives.
