Most parents think that technology and devices are important tools for a child's development, especially now that they use it to do their jobs with the digital classroom and communicate with their classmates. But, don't spend hours in front of the screen?
The question parents ask themselves is: how much time should a child spend in front of a computer screen or mobile phone? It is troubling for psychologists, health organizations, and governments to join.
Next, we wanted to prepare this article when we show you professional guidelines and recommendations so that you can manage and manage your child's daily glass consumption and tips and warnings about dangers.
During confinement, screens like security guards
In a strange time where it has stayed far from home, where families have to avoid social networking, resources are used to connect with loved ones and make videoconferences.
By the end of February, according to various studies, the average usage of mobile phones was 4 and a half daily. The closing time and closing of schools has been increased to 8 hours and 40 minutes.
The number of messages exchanged in the ChildApp child groups has now tripled, and in the case of teenagers over 13, the number is up to 7.5 times higher than before the crisis began.
Spending too much time in front of a small children’s screen can cause permanent damage to their brain, which is still emerging. The ability to focus, pay attention, feel and communicate can be affected.
Author of best seller & # 39; Your Child & Your Child & # 39; s originated from the idea that children under 2 should not spend any time in front of screens, even though they now know we are in a completely different situation.
And that screens or alters the face-to-face interaction, but they are always better than nothing, whose use of apps such as WhatsApp, Google Duo, Zoom or Houseparte is rising to launch video calls with friends.
Unicef has published a report on the effects created by digital technology on the psychological well-being of children, including happiness, mental health and social life. Spending time in front of a screen can be great for the well-being of children.
For its part, the World Health Organization (WHO) advises that screen time should be taken in extra time for communication, physical activity and sleep and rest.
In many European countries, the age at which children begin to have a cellphone is young, now 10 years old.
The positive and negative effects of screen time usage
Let's look at the positive and negative effects of screen time, and how it can affect learning outcomes and even lead to non-screen fights throughout a child's life.
We want to set rules for the children and how we should follow them as parents. Screen partitioning is important, and there are apps that can help you reduce screen time, as well as other apps.
Why the whole thing uses this: More than a third of parents (35%) say that they use electronic devices to entertain their children because it allows them to focus and do other activities.
On their own, about a quarter (23%) want their children to be technologically savvy. A 2015 survey of 1,000 British mothers of children between the ages of 2 and 12 found that 85 percent of mothers agree to use technology to keep children busy.
Examination of AO.com He revealed that children spend an average of 17 hours a week in front of a screen, almost double the 8.8 hours a week they spend playing in the open with their friends.
Thus, there are several strong recommendations for reducing screen time for children, even adolescents, as well as adults.
Television has been an easy way to "watch the kids" for years, hear the rise of DVD players, and then Netflix. However, computers, tablets, tablets and mobiles are creating more concerns in the sense of causing them to worry about their use.
According to current, seven-year-old data, the average child will have spent a full 24-hour day looking at devices with display devices. More screens mean more use and more medical problems.
Set screen time rules for the whole family
So how much screen time is healthy for a person 7, 10, even 1, 2, or 3 years old? How much should young people watch television? How many hours in front of a computer or console? You may be surprised at the negative effect it has on the development of a child.
Parents who want to reduce their children's screen time should set rules to reduce the risk of health and mental problems.
Sigman acknowledges that there is a lack of clarity in the advice, but points to a range of government advice about how much time a child should spend in front of a screen.
Other countries are going further, as is the case with the French government that has banned digital television for children under the age of three, while Australia and Canada have similar recommendations and guidelines.
Harvard Clinical Psychologist and School Counselor Catherine Steiner-Adair (author) The Great Depression: Protecting Childhood and Family Relations in the Digital Age) studied the impact of digital technology on the construction of children's brains.
A child's mind is designed to learn the language, the feelings and how it controls you. Steiner believes that there is no important role that technology can play in the life of a child under two years.
Taiwanese parents now have a legal obligation to regulate their children's time. The Taiwanese government could impose a fine of up to € 1,000 on parents of children under 18 who use long-term electronic equipment.
The same thing happens in countries such as China and South Korea, where it often limits its use and limits the screen time to a healthy level.
And that kids connect with a wide range of devices. Internet access on a PC or laptop is becoming increasingly accessible via telephone or telephone or pills.
It's revealing to see that Steve Jobs himself, a designer and former Apple executive, didn't let his kids play with the iPad. Steve was a little overweight, but the time limit on screen use should be in the mind of every parent.
The famous psychologist Steiner-Adair found that children show signs of depression when they want to interact with parents and find that technology keeps them distracted. 70% of children think their parents spend more time with technology.
In this way, both Apple on iOS and Google on Android have produced a series of apps on the latest versions of their apps so you can look at the time of use of devices and apps.
Some mobile manufacturers even went so far as to launch Zen modes on their mobile or tablet, so using it in silence quietens all the notice so we can focus on our products and services and leave the device aside.
Enter regular screen breaks
Of course, there are some apps that can be used by parents or installed on their devices to really reduce the time their children spend in front of a computer, console, or any mobile phone with a screen.
Qustodio It is one of the most popular platforms among users, offering a variety of modes and functionality depending on each need. For € 3.58 per month it is possible to secure and control up to 5 different devices.
The company claims to be able to ensure a safe and productive digital environment, by looking at parental control tools in those cases where excessive use is made of devices, game consoles or access to inappropriate content.
Screen time also causes important changes in the brain, particularly dopamine. This neurotransmitter, also known as the pleasure chemical, is important in treating addiction.
Dr. Peter Neibrow, UCLA's director of neuroscience, calls screens "electronic cocaine" and in China, investigators called it "digital heroin."
"Dopamine is produced when we see something exciting or new, but it also has a second function. Dopamine is also a neurochemist involved in many addictions: it is a rewarding chemical."
"There is concern among neuroscientists that this dopamine was produced daily for many years, for example, by playing games in the first person, it can alter the brain of a child's brain and make them more dependent on the screen," Sigman said.
Screens before bed cause sleep disturbances
As Sigman said in an interview conducted at original television, not only can baby sleep be changed at bedtime if they use the tablet, but also adults can suffer or become known as Blue Light.
It is a line of light produced by these digital devices, rich in short wavelength, so it has a higher amount of blue light than natural light, which affects sleep-inducing melatonin levels.
"There is a strong connection between the tablet or any app with a small screen that emits what is known as & # 39; blue & # 39; light, which can be good in the morning, but bad in the evening or when you go to bed.
That is why so many pills y Smartphones They offer the possibility of reducing these light emissions on their screens. New Generation e-book readers, such as Kindle Paperwhite, avoid even emitting these levels of blue light.
Brains are rejuvenated in front of the bed if you don't control this kind of out of devices. Therefore, action games are also not good before the baby sleeps. Electrical equipment should be turned off at least one hour before bed.
What should screen time be used for children?
The answer is simple: not too much time and nothing for children under 2 years old. Therefore. Experts suggest that infants and toddlers should be kept away from all screens.
Children 2 to 5 years old should not be more than one hour a day, and children 5 to 18 years should not have more than two hours a day. That is a difficult decision for young people today, especially with the use of devices in classrooms.
But remember, too, that the real danger is screen time, not education, so you may want to reduce the amount of time your child spends doing homework and homework.
Parents should be able to determine if these restrictions are too strict and allow for some flexibility during screen time.
Guidelines for managing screen time for parent and child screen
Limit screen time for children under 3 years. Screen time is not recommended by the French government for this age group. Average two hours of free time for children over 3 years. This does not include homework.
Check access and availability
Do not allow televisions, computers or any app with a screen to enter a child's bedroom. Sigman recounts that he has spoken to many parents who have regretted letting the screens on and off the rooms. If you do, you will be putting your child's health and physical life in danger.
Set rules
Most parents have not even started the time to use the devices, let alone their children's screens. To accomplish this, it is necessary to create sites with no home devices, to develop food without TV and to be kept up for discussion times.
Explain the reasons
Do not try to turn off the television, tablet or computer without the hassle. Explain to your children why they reduce screen time. Talk to them about the health benefits of reducing screen time.
Kids will think better when interpreting the dangers associated with spending hours in front of a screen. Technology is a learning tool, not an end in itself.
The role of parental role
Ever been caught checking your email or using your mobile phone? Try to avoid using them while chatting with them, no matter how important you do. This will help build empathy and will be a positive role model for your children.
Parents are an example and we should set the example. Likewise, try to avoid using television during meals, especially during these days when you do extra homework together.
Monitor usage
Take a test week and look at the time your kids spend in front of screens and the rest of the family. Install your favorite TV shows, play smartphone and tablet, use the web and video games, you'll see that those two hours are completed very quickly.
To completely eliminate the use of screens when going to bed
To the best of your ability, change the use of notebook devices or the electronic reader that do not harm or touch the brain with blue light. Most LCD screens emit blue light that prevents sleep and disrupts circadian rhythm.
Remember that your children's room is not a place to have fun, but a place where children should be set up for sleeping.
Photos by Dominic Preston
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