The Negative Effects of Too Much Screen Time for Children
How much time do you allow your children to spend watching television or playing video games?
As we continue to spend more time at home, are your children spending more time on their electronic devices?
Do they love watching television? Do they prefer playing a tablet instead of playing outside in the park? Then perhaps it is time to revisit your rules on screen time.
Too much screen time is harmful to most people, but this is especially true for children whose brains are still developing.
A recent study revealed that [1] too much screen time affects child development negatively. This is only one of the different negative effects of screen time among kids. Though scientists are still exploring the adverse impact of excessive screen time, as a parent, it is always wise to be proactive.
But what are the different effects of too much screen time for your children?
And what are some effective ways to reduce screen time?
Continue reading below as we look deeper into screen time and how it can impact your children.
Gadget Usage Among Children
Before anything else, let us first tackle some facts on gadget usage and children.
Studies show that [2] 98% of children in the United States live in homes that have at least one mobile device. Moreover, children between 0 to 8 years old posted an average of 2 hours and 19 minutes of screen time a day. These numbers alarmed the American Academy of Pediatrics. In turn, the group recommended zero screen time for children under 18 months, only allowing the use of mobile devices for video chatting.
Furthermore, they recommended that toddlers until age 5 must only have a maximum of one full hour of screen time per day. Some parents may find these recommendations hard to follow especially if they are at work or cannot be beside their children all the time. But it’s worth your while to become better informed about what damage screen time may be doing to your children.
Negative Effects of Screen Time
With the danger of too much screen time lurking, you must stay on top of your children’s gadget use. To effectively manage the situation, you must first understand the negative effects of screen time. Let’s take a look at some of the most impactful ones below.
Lack of Sleep
Too much screen time can lead to a lack of sleep [3]. Sleep deprivation happens in all age groups including toddlers and kids. This demographic also requires more sleep than adults.
Apart from [4] strengthening the immune system, sleep improves memory and helps in children’s mind and body development. On average, children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep every night. But with a mobile phone or tablet nearby, most children tend to get less than that.
Moreover, mobile devices emit blue light. This kind of light is high in energy. It also features a shorter wavelength compared to other forms of light.
Experts say that blue light causes harm to the eye’s retina. This is because the retina is light-sensitive.
Blue light can also damage your children’s brain cells, leading to them losing their concentration.
Furthermore, blue light plays an important role in people’s circadian rhythm or internal clock. This clock handles our sleep/wake cycle. Too much exposure to blue light, especially during the wrong time of the day, will disrupt the sleep/wake cycle of everyone involved - including children.
Obesity
Kids spending too much time in front of gadgets are also at greater risk of becoming [5] obese. Watching YouTube videos or cartoons on Netflix equates to your kids sitting down. Sometimes, kids will demand snacks while watching their favourite shows, making the problem even worse.
Obesity creates many problems, including the potential to develop heart disease, diabetes, and joint pains.
Also, remember that children are full of energy. They need to release this energy by playing outdoors or engaging in tiring activities. Otherwise, behavioural issues can arise.
Behavioural Problems
As children become attached to a gadget, they become too engaged with what they are watching. In turn, this can lead to a poor response to discipline.
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Furthermore, kids may become aggressive and have difficulty managing their impulses.
Additionally, gadgets reduce the time they can spend interacting with other kids. Instead of playing outdoors with children their age, they will opt to stay indoors watching shows or playing video games on their gadgets. In more severe cases, this can lead children to struggle with basic social etiquette. [6]
Body Pains and Vision Problems
Excessive screen time can also lead to pain in different parts of the body.
One of the most common areas where children may feel pain is in the neck. There are also cases of children reporting pain in their wrists and thumbs.
These are due to poor posture during extensive gadget viewing. Moreover, too much gadget use may cause headaches and migraines.
Exposure to Violence
Last but not least, too much gadget use may expose your children to violence. Kids ages 8 and up already know how to play video games and many of the games on the market have violent themes.
Violent games introduce children to weapons and guns. Some games also encourage fist-fighting. This can lead to children fighting with their siblings, misbehaving in school, and fighting with their classmates.
Reducing Screen Time
As a parent, you must learn how to reduce your children’s screen time. Not to just keep your kids more active, but to support proper brain growth and development.
Here are some of the most effective tips to consider.
Become a Good Example
Effectively reducing screen time sometimes starts with you. Set an example by placing your mobile phone away from you during dinner and demand the same of your children. Mealtime should be family time, free of TV and distractions.
When we’re distracted during mealtimes or eat under stress, our digestive systems cannot function properly and nutrients cannot be fully absorbed. So start by making mealtime screen-free for the whole family - not just to limit screen time, but to support proper digestion.
You can also become a good example by limiting your screen time in general - this will also enable you to spend more time with your kids. And everyone will benefit from that!
Set Time Limits
Strictly enforce time limits for gadget use. A maximum of two hours per day is a good start. These two hours should also include time spent watching television.
Keep Your Bedroom Screen-free
If your child still sleeps in your room, keep the latter screen-free. This means transferring your TV to another room. This also covers the use of your laptop and personal computer.
Blue light emitted in the bedroom can disrupt both your sleep and that of your child’s.
Talk to Your Family
Make your family understand why you are reducing everyone’s screen time. Explain the harmful effects of excessive gadget use. Create an atmosphere that promotes more active time with the family.
Manage Your Health the Right Way
Learning about the negative effects of screen time is something all parents must do. But addressing gadget use is only one of the areas you need to cover in regard to your family's health. You must also ensure your family is getting the right nutrition.
Connect with us today and let us guide you toward taking the best possible care of yourself and your family. We offer customized nutritional plans and meal planning services for the entire family to ensure everyone is getting the proper nutrition they need.
As always, I welcome your thoughts and value your feedback. Let me know how you’re limiting screen time by dropping me a line or commenting below.
And don’t forget to grab your kid-friendly recipes ebook at HappiHuman.com while it’s still half price - prices are slated to increase on May 4th!