Medicosnext
In these challenging times, when the pandemic has forced many across the globe to remain within specified confines, children are experiencing major changes in routine that may negatively impact their health and well-being. It is, as such, important to limit their recreational screen time. It is important to have a balanced approach to screen time by making sure that children use screens in a balanced way as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Not too little, not too much, but just the right amount of screen time is what your kids need, because controlling a child’s screen time can be challenging. As kids are growing up with smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices, here are some tips on limiting a child’s screen usage on daily basis, as it affects early childhood development.
What is screen time?
Screen time means “time spent in sedentary behaviours, such as viewing television, playing video games, and using computer and smartphones”. In today’s world, children are “digital natives” born in an era of evolving technology, where screen time is embedded in their daily lives. In recent times, it is impossible to not have screens at home, but there are ways how excess exposure can be regulated to ensure healthy childhood development.
What is appropriate screen time for children?
The World Health Organization (WHO) guideline recommends no screen exposure to children less than two years old, and not more than one hour of screen time for children two to four years of age. In addition to that, in a 24-hour day:
– Infants less than one year should also be physically active and engaged in, for example, interactive floor-based play, or at least 30 minutes in prone position (tummy time).
– Children above one year should spend at least 180 minutes in a variety of physical activity.
– To avoid sedentary behavior, children below six years should not be restrained for more than one hour at a time (e.g., strollers, high chairs, or strapped on a caregiver’s back). When the child is not engaged in any form of physical activity, reading, storytelling, coloring, and social games with a caregiver is encouraged.
– Good quality sleep is equally essential, with a minimum of 10 to 13 hours of sleep for all children below six years.
Below are some of the effects of excess screen time on childhood development:
– We know that there are many potential benefits of digital technology, but for pre-schoolers, health and developmental risks outweigh the benefits.
– Obesity, headache, eye problems, back ache, and sleep disturbances are some of the commonly seen health issues when screen time is excessive.
– Environmental factors, parent child interaction, and real-life experiences have a profound influence on a child’s development and learning. Hence, increased screen time could potentially deprive the child’s environment, leading to language delay, inability to apply what the child has learnt through screen in real-life situations, poor school readiness, attention, memory, reading difficulties, and deficits in social interactions and communication. Behavioral problems, such as high emotional reactivity, aggression, and temper tantrums, could also be the consequences of excessive screen exposure.
– For children younger than two years, their understanding of content on two-dimensional screens is limited. They can imitate and recall actions performed by a person on a screen, or imitate sign language, but cannot learn new knowledge at less than 30 months of age without a real-life adult helping them learn.
– Play and human interaction is the key to a child’s overall development. Therefore, digital media and learning cannot be a substitute for shared parent-child experiences, interaction and learning.
Few suggestions and recommendation for parents to navigate excess screen time:
a) Setting aside a time for using screen—setting clear boundaries around the amount, content time of the day screen is used.
b) Setting screen-free time and zones—avoiding screen use during mealtimes and one-hour before bedtime.
c) Parents should watch and play with digital media together with their children i.e., co-viewing. This creates an opportunity for parent-child interaction, sharing of experiences, and commenting on the video asking open-ended questions, instead of commenting on the digital device, e.g. tap that, push this, switch to right, etc.
d) Help the child apply knowledge gained from apps or TV programs in real-life situations.
e) Supervision and monitoring of screen use and uninstall those that are violent or age inappropriate.
f) Children should be encouraged to involve in creative activities and play, such as drawing, coloring, storytelling, craft work, playing with blocks, etc.
g) Parents to serve as role models and be aware of their own screen time and always be available when the child is trying to speak or interact with him/her. Parents should set their children as priority, rather than the screen.
Homes have become workplaces, as the culture of work from home/online work has taken over in most parts of the world. This makes it even more difficult for parents to model appropriate behavior. Nevertheless, parents could apply few strategies to limit increased screen exposure, such as:
– Channelize children’s curiosity and energy by involving them in household chores and exercise. Making arrangements for indoor play activities and playing board games.
– Introduce new hobbies.
– Maintain a structured routine.
– Self-care: parents to take time out for themselves (relaxing or engaging in doing things they like) to be able to care for children adequately.
