Screen time for kids

Screen time for kids

Screen time for kids is now one of the most popular
concerns of many parents and has now become a global search for most people due to the intense increase in technology use. It is not possible to completely stop children from using screens. However, there are some ways to limit screen usage.
In this article, you’ll learn how much screen time is good for kids and
some ways to limit screen time, and also the good and bad effects of the usage
of screens.

Screen time during Corona Virus:

Screen time for kids

As of June 2020, 62 percent of parents of U.S. teens aged 14 to 17 years stated that their kids were spending more than four hours per day on electronic devices since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 32 percent of responding parents stated that their teens had used electronic devices daily for more than four hours before the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the pandemic triggered a rise in the use of electronic devices among American children under 13 and teenagers with screen time now double what it used to be across all age groups.

How much screen time for kids:

Under 2 years:

No screen time for children under 2 except for video
calls with family members.

2 to 5 years:

Screen time 1 hour with the condition of co-viewing with
a parent or guardian.

Quality screen time:

Screen time for kids

As we know, quality is more important than quantity. So
quality screen time is worth it. It is more useful to focus on how screens are used and ensure that screen use does not interfere with other aspects of their lives,” said Dr. Michelle Ponti, Chair of the CPS Digital Health Task
Force.
Quality screen time also includes children watching
things that help them improve their skills, as well as games that help improve the brain, rather than games that involve just swiping.

Screen time has both positive and negative effects on
human health, both of which are described below:

A negative effect of screen time:

Eyesight weakness:

Screen time for kids

Long exposure to screens causes eyesight weakness.

Obesity:

Screen time for kids

Excessive screen use causes obesity in children and
adolescents like most children just eat and sit or lie on the bed and do no
physical activity which leads to obesity. So there should be limited screen time for kids.

Sleep problem:

Screen time for kids

Sleep problem is the biggest problem caused by the high
use of mobile phones, tablets, and computers. The blue light emitted by these devices disrupts melatonin (the sleep hormone) in the brain, which plays a role in the sleep/wake cycle.

Depression and anxiety:

Screen time for kids

The present study makes a unique contribution to the limited existing research examining how sedentary screen-based activities may relate to symptoms of depression and anxiety in youth. Our data indicate that the duration of sedentary screen time was associated with more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety in a large sample of Canadian adolescents.

A Positive effect of screen time:

Following are the positive effect of screen time:

Mind development:

Screen time for kids

Children who play games that help in developing the mind
and strengthening the mind play an important role in the life of today’s
generation. If they spend most of their time playing games that give them good exposure, it will be fine. Through games, they can connect with people all over the world and this increases the level of communication.

Improve research skills:

Screen time for kids

Children who use phones and tablets can use them positively by researching various topics. This will improve their research skills by analyzing what they have found and analyzing the topic more deeply.

Usage of Educational apps:

Screen time for kids

There are many online educational learning apps like solo learning, Photo math, etc. Spending a long time on these apps is much more beneficial than wasting time.

Solution of excess screen time:

We all know that “excess of everything is bad”.
What should be done within the limit, but the main question that raises in most minds is how to limit screen time?

Here are some ways you can limit screen time for kids and
even adults.

Counseling of Children:

Screen time for kids

Parents should advise and then tell their children about the positive and negative effects of social media. Tell them that now there are many ways to use it, it is up to them to use it in a good way or a bad way.
Teach them to use it the right way and limit their exposure to bad websites that contain explicit content.

Set a Time Routine:

Screen time for kids

They should set a timetable for them whether it is 1 hour or 2 hours. After this time limit, they should not be allowed to use it and
they have to surrender their mobiles, tablets, or laptops, but there comes
another point is that the time routine must not disturb their daily life routine like studying or sleep.

Bedtime:

Screen time for kids

Avoid keeping the phone near the bed. About 1 hour or 30 minutes before going to bed, there should be no screen exposure to avoid a sleep bug. There is a sleep error, as we discussed above, that the blue light that the screen emits disrupts the sleep cycle. If you want to know the reason, go above and read about the negative impact of the screen. Parents should keep the device out of the children’s sleeping room.

Limit the use of social media:

Screen time for kids

According to a survey conducted in 2019 on media use among kids and teenagers in the United Kingdom (UK), several respondents reported having taken action to curb or reduce smartphone use in the last 6months. Around 18 percent had removed certain social media apps from their phones, while 17 percent limited screen time. A slightly less popular method for reducing phone use was cutting down on social media time.

Technology- Free Zone:

Screen time for kids

Having a technology-free zone where cell phones, tablets, video games, and tablets are not allowed like at a family party, dinner table, social gathering, etc. This helps improve social bonds with family members and others.

Usage of Parent Control:

Screen time for kids

Most people don’t know about parental control. Parental
control is only on every device and search engine in which you limit access to certain websites, games that contain ads, and content over 18 years old.
Co-monitoring also helps limit screen use by staying close to children when
they are using mobile phones etc.

Conclusion:

Screen time of kids has increased in recent years, especially among children. It is necessary to control this activity for an hour because it has both a negative and a positive effect. If it is used wisely, it will be beneficial to us. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that their children correctly use them.