If you’re feeling like you might need to do a phone detox, try looking at how much time your kids are also spending in front of a digital screen. Modern parenting has somehow delegated much to digital devices the important task of educating, guiding, and even babysitting our young children.
While it has its own benefits, kids do not yet have the capacity to wean themselves off if they’re becoming too dependent on these devices – even addicted – nor do they have the rationality to become aware of the negative impacts it may have on their behavioral and social skills.
Here are some important reasons why you should limit your kids’ screen time:
1. Lack of social contact
Every parent has at one point or another let a cellphone babysit their children whenever they’re dining out or other social gatherings, to keep them occupied. What this does is they will prefer the screen over interacting with other children or adults. They tend to retract from the world around them, and some studies are looking at how this may contribute to them developing anxiety and depression.
2. Lack of outdoor activities
A kid who is screen dependent is usually lethargic. They wouldn’t want to go outside and indulge in any physical game or sports. Lack of exercise among children can possibly hurt their brain’s development and impair its proper functioning.
3. Eye defects
Continued and prolonged screen use can result in eye fatigue, blurred vision, double vision, and dry eyes. Children who overuse digital devices can develop eye problems at a very young age.
4. Bad posture
As they hunch over mobile phones or tablets or even lie down in several different postures to watch the screen in long durations, their posture may be affected.
5. Delayed development among toddlers
Kids, toddlers most especially, need enough physical activities for them to practice their spatial, motor, and visual skills. Replacing these physical activities with digital screens can negatively impact their cognitive development and result in some delays.
Read the full article by Kiddoware here for more information on why you need to limit your kids’ screen time.
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Great post… Kids get so addicted to them! My daughter is only 9 months old but LOVES trying to get my cell phone. Its crazy
So True! Not to mention the insecurities that develop from social media hype. Thanks for sharing.
This is soo true!
Yep, my parents set me in front of a screen most of the time because they didn’t feel up to interacting with me. I still have developmental problems from this at age 25, such as slow, halting speech from not getting the chance to practice at a young age like children need from their parents. I know it can be hard for parents, having to make enough money to support one or more extra people, etc. But this is important. Thanks for bringing awareness to this issue.
So true the internet should never be responsible to educate your children… you are in charge!
This is so true! I see this with the children at work every day. They lack emotional intelligence and are unable to read nonverbal cues from other children. It has become an enormous hindrance to child development.
As a first time parent it is good to know what impacts screens have on our children. This was helpful.