Digital screen time has exploded

for our youngest children

Digital screen time use has exploded for our youngest children, including infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers – and the effects are devastating.

Recent Research

My recent blog reviewed the new research study that scanned the brains of children 3 to 5 years old and discovered that those who used screens for even the recommended one hour a day, had low levels of development and organization in the brain’s key area for language, literacy and cognitive skills.

This is dramatically significant because in the first five years, the young brain is developing so quickly, and creating ‘hard wired’ connections for a lifetime.

Digital Screen Time Exploding for Toddlers

The World Health Organization has guidelines for the use of digital screen devices, and when it is appropriate for young children. Under the age of one year: never; for ages 2-4, one hour per day (best if segmented and spread out to shorter times).

The American Academy of Pediatrics says no baby under 18 months should be exposed to a screen (except for face-to-face family interactions). Children between 18 months and 5 years of age should only be exposed to one hour a day, preferably with parents or caregivers who interact with them about the content on the screen.

Yet, the fact is that between 12 months and three years the use of digital screens for toddlers swells astronomically. In a study of digital screen use in the home, researchers found that daily use of digital screen devices by children increased three fold.

WHY this Explosion of digital Screen Time?

Parents play a decisive role in why a young child spends so much time on a device.

A Canadian study at the University of Calgary found that a child’s overuse of screens matched the mother’s unrestricted digital screen use, especially for mothers who cared for their child at home. Parents who are waking up to these facts want to reverse their own and their child’s digital habits.

Trying to Avert Use of Digital Screens

With this kind of surprising data, there are many ideas and plans of how to avert this digital screen behavior. Parents and caregivers do want to free children and their families from the scourge of digital devices. It is the parents who begin by deciding when, where, and how often screens are used; parents reinforce the need for sleep, and physical activity; and parents try to have more device-free interactions.

This is all good, and a solid beginning. But it is paramount to remember: this device is created to be an addiction. The screen device is an addiction. And nd like all addictions, it affects the brain, so that allowing the activity, even a little, reactivates the addiction.

Effective Plan

In my past blog, I wrote of Dr. Victoria Dunkley’s book: Resetting Your Child’s brain – Reversing the Effects of Electronic Screen Time. She shows parents all the data and helps them form a family plan to unconditionally stop using digital screen devices to “reset your child’s brain”.

Difficult as this plan seems at first, in the end, parents are so grateful and relieved to see the re-awakening of their child and the successes that follow.

Early Intervention to stop the explosion of digital screen use in our children

First Clearly, for parents, these digital screen habits are formed very early in your child’s life. Thus, not introducing a digital screen to your child is best practice: never-screen.

If the horse is already out of the barn – that is, if your child is already proficient in using digital screen devices – your next step is to ask yourself questions like these from the AAP to score your family screen time: – how much access does your child have to a screen (allowed in the bedroom, at meals, car, in line at store?) – the frequency of exposure (age started, number of hours, at bedtime?) – content (chooses own? watches negative or positive content:fighting, reckless play – or – songs and developmentally appropriate education? – solo or interactive screen time? (does the child watch alone or does a parent interact and discuss the content as well?)

Your Screen Time – Your Choices

You will have a good picture of whether you and your children are using screen time positively, choosing wisely and self-regulating. You may uncover uncomfortable answers, but Beware: the tech industry specializes in running programs that end up running you.

At any rate, you can begin immediately to choose to reduce and regulate screen time for yourself, especially when your children are near. This early intervention path for you and your children will lead to a much easier and better chance to optimize their development. You, the parents, can ultimately lead your children into a lifetime of successes.

Life

The first years of life – all life – cries out for human interaction. We learned this more than ever during the isolation of the c-virus lockdowns. And now, more than ever, we all want to connect with our darling love-adores. We want to talk, laugh, sing, dance, play and READ in deep and high love and appreciations… without any interference from digital screen distractions… and with your…

LIGHT ON!