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Isn’t it a bit ironic and funny seeing several kids staring at the screens of their phones, pads, or laptops in the most unusual public places? Well, in this digital era, parents find this to be the quickest way to keep their kids busy. But is this making them calmer and keeping them away from throwing tantrums publicly or something more is also affecting them in the long run?
In this article, we’ll be discussing the drawbacks of increasing screen time on kids and how it is affecting them in the long run. So read along to find out more.
Screen Time: A Temporary Fix
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Screen time can be an effective way to keep kids occupied and out of trouble. From tablets and phones to computers and televisions, it can be easy for parents to turn on a screen as a quick fix when they need some peace. But it should not be used as a long-term solution. It’s important to remember that screen time should always come with limits and restrictions to ensure that your child’s development isn’t hindered by too much exposure.
Excessive screen time has been linked with negative impacts on physical health such as obesity or poor vision due to the blue light emitted from screens. Extended periods spent in front of a device can lead to sleep disturbances which could have serious consequences for growing children who require plenty of restful sleep. And overuse causes distraction from important activities like studying, eating healthy meals, etc leading to unhealthy lifestyle choices.
Additionally, too much technology usage can also lead to social isolation which means less interaction between people leading to reduced communication skills over time. Something you wouldn’t want your children missing out on.
Therefore, if you must use screens for keeping your kids busy during times then make sure there are strict rules about how much they are allowed per day which is no more than two hours at most.
Does It Make Kids Throw More Tantrums Eventually?
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The amount of time children spend on their phones and tablets is a major concern for many parents. As technology advances, it has become increasingly difficult to keep kids away from screens. And to be very precise, with the rise in popularity of apps, games, and social media platforms, it’s no wonder that screen time has become such an important part of our children’s lives. So the question is, is this temporary fix of keeping kids away from throwing tantrums making them even more troublesome? Well, the answer is a big yes!
Too much screen time can indeed be detrimental to a child’s development in various ways, from decreased physical activity levels to reduced concentration spans. However, some studies suggest that limiting or reducing access to screens can lead to increased levels of frustration among kids who have grown accustomed to having these devices around them all the time. This could manifest itself as an increase in temper tantrums when they’re denied access or asked by parents not to use them at certain times during the day.
In addition, research suggests that overuse of digital devices may cause sleep deprivation due to lack of exposure to natural light which plays an important role in regulating circadian rhythms. This further contributes to bad behavior because tiredness often leads to irritability and emotional outbursts, particularly among younger age groups.
Therefore, it would seem logical to conclude that if we take away kid’s phones or tablets they’ll become more problematic than before.
How To Manage Your Kid’s Excessive Screen Time?
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Here are some suggestions to help you manage your kid’s screen time and get them back on an overall healthy lifestyle:
- Create rules about when and where screens can be used in the home. For example, establish times during which screens should not be used at all or limit usage after bedtime hours until morning routines have been completed first the next day. This will help keep them from getting distracted by screens while doing homework assignments or chores around the house too.
- You can also consider setting up parental controls if necessary so you know what content they’re accessing online. This way you’ll also avoid any inappropriate material being viewed by kids who may not understand its implications yet and maybe get addicted to it.
- Talk openly with your child about this issue. Explain to them by giving examples, like how eating too much candy isn’t good for you nor is spending excessive amounts of time using electronic devices without breaks throughout each day either. Remind them there are plenty of other activities available such as reading books, playing sports outside, etc. instead which would benefit their overall health more than sitting indoors glued onto a device all afternoon long.
As parents, you must find ways to balance using digital devices responsibly while providing enough outdoor playtime so your children can develop physically & emotionally without feeling overwhelmed by their devices. Hopefully, now you have got a clear idea of what increased screen time does to your child in the long run. So do let us know in the comment section, how you manage your kids when you are busy and they don’t have anything to do but stare at their screens.
Sources:
- Effects of screen time on the health and well-being of children and adolescents: a systematic review of reviews, NCBI
- Screen time and young children: Promoting health and development in a digital world, NCBI
