We often see children playing on their phones while they are pushed in strollers or going out with their parents. Parents think this is the best way to deal with the child outside the home. But do you think, they are learning something from that? This is just affecting their ability to learn from the real world.
Studies show that nearly three out of four young children get more screen time than estimated. Moreover, as the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics reports, screen time is linked with delayed development in children.
Don’t you think parents are also lagging in fulfilling their responsibilities? Just because they are throwing tantrums, you are allowing them to watch TV, use phones, or use tablets.
First, you need to understand how it is impacting brain development.
- Reduced attention span
- Emotionally unstable
- Reduce language development
- Social isolation
- Issues in brain structure (ability to make decisions)
Impact of Excessive Screen Time on Kids’s brains
According to the National Institute of Health, “Children who spend more than two hours on screen-time activity on a daily basis tend to have less thinking ability.” Here are some of the impacts that are influencing the brain of your child.
- Neurological issues: Sticking to their phone and not indulging in activities for longer periods affects their posture and developing spine. They will not learn things by just looking at them on the phone. By just watching, they aren’t able to do things on their own, solve problems, or do any other things.
Even studies show that excessive screening can influence the structural changes in the brain. This includes their decision-making ability, emotional disruption, and interference in melatonin production, which influences sleep patterns. And we all know how less sleep does to us. It can reduce the ability of your child to combat the problems and can also cause trouble in coping with their life changes. - Impact on hormones: You know what? Excessive screening releases hormones like cortisol, adrenaline, or norepinephrine, which lead the brain to either on “fight” or “flight” mode. This triggers their emotional, physical and psychological reactions. Also, due to the release of dopamine, your child craves more food. These reactions impulsively impact their brain and can cause them to feel irritated, moody, and aggressive.
- Desensitize their brain: If your child is hooked on electronic gadgets and makes themselves busy by playing games, then they will get affectionate with the progress and higher level in games. It is like a cocaine addiction. This releases feel-good chemicals, and the brain reacts based on a reward system. Over time, your kid becomes less sensitive to things and starts to look for other options to feel or experience pleasure. Additionally, they started to withdraw themselves from the real world, which significantly impacted their overall development.
- Impact brain development: The American Academy of Pediatricians stated that it is best to avoid screening children aged less than 18 months. Their eyes are way too sensitive to blue light and UV that emit from the screen. It can impact their brain development and can have a long-term impact on cognitive development.
Along with that, the hyperarousal suppresses the frontal lobe of the brain, which regulates mood. So, if the screen is excessive, it will influence the overall behavior of the child. - Overload on sensory systems: Excessive screen time bombards the brain with continuous stimulation of visual and auditory senses, which causes difficulty in processing the information. Children start to feel overwhelmed and irritated, and this leads to physical discomfort. You, as a parent, might not think about how watching digital electronics impacts their senses. The longer the time they watch the screens, the more their ability to focus on other things is reduced. Not only that, this put a lot of strain on their eyes, leading to eye issues. This can fatigue the eye muscles and lead to less blinking. This strain has a lot of impact on the brain, leading to a disrupted sleep cycle.
- Chances of stress
Yes, even children do face stress and seasonal affective disorder. This might feel less acceptable, but if a kid is continuously engaging in watching TV on the phone, they tend to lose excitement in playing outside. This can impact their mood and health, and they start to isolate themselves from others. This hormonal imbalance can regulate their emotions, leading to increased stress and anxiety. Moreover, if they don’t get enough exposure to sunlight or natural light, their melatonin production is impacted, which can increase SAD chances.
Tips: For Parents
- Make sure to have a timetable for your kids, including screen-free meals, playing with friends and family, etc.
- Rather than forbidding them, you can play online games with your child. This way you can track their activity and can limit their screen time.
- Focus on your child’s overall development, and notice how they are responding to things.
- Make sure to avoid the phone just before bedtime.
- Kid-friendly options can help you to keep your child away from unnecessary things.
Additionally, if you notice something off about your child, like the ability to talk, language barriers, frequent mood swings, inability to stay away from the phone, or more, make sure to contact the pediatrician. Cradle Children Hospital believes that your child is precious, and you can ignore things when it comes to their development. They are innocent and delicate; it is better to treat them right.
