ways of controlling the level of exposure to screen time to children
Introduction
Screen time refers to the amount of time spent while using devices with a screen. These devices are inclusive of computers, smartphones, video game console, and the televisions. It is observed that the screen time has direct impacts on child development, the mental and also physical health. The exposure of the content determines the intensity of the effects of screen time. The electronic screen traces its history on the concept of cathode ray tube back in the year 1897. In that era, the cathode ray tube was the famous alternative channel for displaying screens. Later, there was a rise in liquid crystal displays (LCDs) in the early 2000s. Until now, the screens are an integral component when it comes to information technologies, advertising as well as entertainment. As much as screen devices have brought about comfort, the research shows that they have undesirable impacts, particularly on children. Therefore, there should have ways of controlling the level of exposure to screen time to children. It is an action that can help a lot in shaping child development. Besides, it will protect children from being affected mentally, which will promote their physical wellbeing.
Affects Mental Health
Research from the journal of Preventive Medicine Reports shows that young people who spend seven hours or more in a day on the screens have a higher probability of being diagnosed with anxiety and depression. The research shows that the rate of this diagnosis is more than twice compared with those who spend approximately one hour in a day. Along with the connection of depression and anxiety with screen time, the study also found that young people who spend more than seven hours on a screen are easily distracted (“There’s Worrying New Research About Kids’ Screen Time and Their Mental Health,” n.d.).They also become less emotionally stable and never finish their tasks compared to their counterparts who speed at most one hour on screen. The aspect of not completing the task on time is a logic issue in connection to screen time.
If by example, two children are given similar chores or homework under a given timeline where screen time is different for them, then even the time of finishing that task will be different. The child with more screen time will take a longer time to complete the job, and a high possibility is that even the task could not be done. It is a scenario that can raise the tension to a child since there must be consequences of punishment. In that scenario, the addiction to screen time is seen to cause anxiety, which is a mental health issue. Conversely, if other child spends less time on screen, there will have enough time to complete the task. The child will not be in anxiety since no worrying consequences. That state of free from anxiety is crucial to children since it helps in effective and positive development.
Self-Isolation
It is discovered that having too much screen time has far-reaching consequences such as mental health and also health problem such as obesity (Holland, 2018). It is a concern which calls for the responsibilities of parents and guardians to take control of this issue. Among various remedies of neutralizing those effects is the self – isolation process. The guardians must keep in mind that there should be a specific level of exposure that children should be allowed on the screen (“Tips to manage kids’ screen time,” 2019). The self- isolation process is perfect since, in a way, it deviates children from activities of staring at the screen. The first aspect is to ensure that most of the time guardian is around when children are involved in screen activities. That aspect of setting a specific amount of time should be instilled in children’s minds. They should be regularly informed that spending too much time on screen is harmful to their health. It is a perception that will stick into their mind, and as they grow, they would have that concept of excessive screen time is not healthy.
Another method of ensuring that self-isolation is achieved is through watching the programs or engaging in those activities together. While watching a show, for example, the guardian should discuss the content being shown and educate about the commercials and advertisements which lengthens screen time (Lauricella, Wartella, & Rideout, 2015). At another point, the children will be exposed to the content which is not approved or without filters. The guardian must talk openly about those situations, which could also impact the behavior and growth development of the child. In those scenarios, the guardian must encourage children to think critically about what being shown on the screen. The concept of self – isolation does not also only consider the time exposure of the child but also considers the quality of content presented (“Tips to manage kids’ screen time,” 2019). Another method of achieving self-isolation on-screen time is through becoming a role model. As the guardian, there is a need for limiting time interaction time, especially at the presence of children. It is an effective method since the children have that tendency to emulate what is done by their guardians.
Physical Wellbeing
There is specific research by a scholar known as Twenge, who has been examining the effects of digital technologies on the well being of children. The work focusses on how screen time and technology at large have interfered with the social life of the kids. The scholar found that children who are always lined with an extended period of screen time have sleeping problems. Besides, the research showed that those kids who spend a lot of time staring on screens tend to have less happiness. The comparison is with the kids who engage themselves with non – screening activities, for example, sport and reading traditional published media (Xu et al., 2015). Also, it was noted that spending time while socialization with friends increases the physical well – being of children. Even if technology has been an integral part of determining the level of intelligence of children, it lacks that physical contact, which is essential for their physical and social well- being. When children spend most of the time interacting with each other, they get first-hand experience, which is a crucial component of physical well- being development.
Conclusion
The concept of screen time is a subset of technology evolution, which has been discussed to have various mental and health impacts on children. It is discovered that higher intensity exposure of screen time can lead to complications such as anxiety, depression, lack of happiness, and retarded growth of physical well – being. It is, therefore, the duty of guardians to make sure that they control exposure time of screen to their children. Not only screen time should be monitored but also the quality of the content to prevent morals also. Through taking the necessary precautions, the adverse effect of screen time will be neutralized.