If you have children, then you will know how difficult it is to avoid screens. Although smart phones and computers do offer many benefits to your child’s learning, too much screen time is becoming a growing concern for parents.
Studies show that excessive screen time can have a negative impact on a child’s health and development. Therefore, it is important for parents to put a limit on screen time at home and monitor the type of content their children are viewing.
Understanding the dangers of too much screen time can help parents to establish a more practical approach. To help you learn more, here is some useful information from an independent college in Hitchin…
What are the dangers of too much screen time?
Research suggests that excessive screen time can affect a child’s physical and mental health. This is because it consumes time which could be spent socialising, learning and exercising. Other negative effects of too much screen time include:
Poor health
When screen time increases, this usually means physical activity decreases. Lack of physical exercise can lead to weight gain and other health related problems.
Vision and posture problems
Looking at a screen for long periods of time can lead to eye strain and headaches. Children may also complain of neck and back pain, caused by poor posture habits when using their devices.
Behaviour issues
Excessive screen time can also lead to emotional, social and attention problems. Furthermore, without the proper parental controls in place children can be exposed to inappropriate or violent content online.
Disturbed sleep
Screen time before bed can lead to sleeping difficulties. This is due to the blue light that is emitted from digital devices. Studies have found that this type of light suppresses our melatonin production, which is a sleep-promoting hormone.
What can you do to reduce screen time?
If you feel that your child is spending too much time on their screens, then you will need to set a screen time limit. Here is where parents need to set a good example and limit their own screen time too! This means putting away your mobile phone and encouraging more family activities.
It is also your responsibility to ensure that your child is getting enough physical activity, away from their devices. Make time to explore the outdoors with your child and try ‘unplugged’ family evenings and weekends.
It may be unrealistic to prevent your child from using their devices completely, but encouraging them to enjoy other activities will help to look after their mental and physical wellbeing.
26 comments
This is something we struggle with in out house. My son lives for his PlayStation. He is hitting 13 and becoming moody and difficult so it’s almost easier.
I work full time and blog when I’m home so I’m very rarely off the screen either so it’s hard to preach.
I need to really think about how I will make this work for us. Thank you for sharing x
It is hard especially when we are busy, it is just findig the right balance for what works
I think it can be hard to strike the right balance between enough and too much. My kids homework is now all online so they get tired of looking at screens.
That is another thing, it is difficult to monitor screen time when they have to do their homework on it as well
I find my children’s behavior changes when they have too much screen time so I tend to create a time when they are allowed to use and whey they are not so they don’t get addicted to electronic gadgets.
I think you have to find what works for you, each family is different but I do agree they need other things as well
I think when it comes to screen time it is all about finding the right balance for your family and your child. Just like us adults, our kids need their down time too and if they choose to spend that chilling in front of a screen it can be really hard to say no. In our house we try to give them time limits but they can use that time whenever they want to throughout the day. We also try to get out and about when we can even if its just for a little walk for some fresh air. Just like most things I think it is all about balance xx
We were the same, we never used to monitor screen time but used to make sure they did other things and get outside and have fun as well
I definitely understand some of where you are coming from , I think each family is definitely when it comes to screen time
You just need to find what works for you as a family
My kids love playing on their tablets but I dont like them spending too much time on them
I would rather have them playing down at the park or climbing trees.
I think there just needs to be a happy balance, but I always made mine go out and play or we would go on walks to get us all out
I’m going to be honest I need to reduce my screen time as I look at a computer all day for work then spend time watching TV, blogging or on my phone around that. So it must be tough for kids as well especially when they’re not able to go outside as much at the moment x
I am the same if I am honest as well, when the kids were younger luckily C and one of the boys loved beng outside but the eldest I used to have to drag him out or he would be sat in front of a screen
I’ve always been more permissive than many of my friends when it comes to screen time and it has worked put well with my son, who now regulates himself as he has been through the binge stage. Mich x
I know it is easy to let them have the screen time but they also need other things as well.
We try to avoid too much screen time with the kids although this can sometimes be easier said than done. We try to get out as much as possible.
I think we all face times where it is just easier to let them have more screen time
Totally agree with this that too much screen time is not good. Like everything in life it is all about balance x
It is all about the balance, they need to have other interests as well
It’s a shame no matter what you say children don’t quite get it when it comes to screen time. I do try to find distractions for mine to help reduce this.
I agree it is a struggle every parent has
I think when it comes to screen time it is all about finding the right balance for your family and your child. Not an easy tusk to monitor at all.
I agree it is not an easy thing to monitor
Now that most of their homework is online, I think trying to find the right balance is tough.
That does make it harder