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Today, we’ve been blessed with technological advancements. Whether it be for entertainment or productivity, screens are available in a wide variety. The most common screens include television, smartphones, and computers.
However, while these screens make our lives easier and more fun, spending long hours in front of them have negative impacts. The new generation of blue screens emits blue light in which study find bad for the eyes. In fact, a study finds blue light in screens is causing blindness.
What’s even more alarming, children who spend more time in front of the screens, particularly TV, may alter their behavior.
How Watching Long Hours of TV Affects Children?
In a report by CBS News, one study1 finds that TV affects the child behavior. In that study, researchers found out that children who spent excessive hours on TV developed antisocial behavior.
Hence, limiting children’s TV time is very important.
Excessive television viewing in childhood and adolescence is associated with increased antisocial behavior in early adulthood. The findings are consistent with a causal association and support the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that children should watch no more than 1 to 2 hours of television each day.
Moreover, the contents from TV shows matter, too. In an earlier study2, children watching violent media suffer from sleep problems. This is not good as children needs longer sleep for their development.
Therefore, in addition to limiting children’s time watching TV, carefully choosing and monitoring what they are watching is just as crucial. This is to ensure that TV has no negative effects on their behaviors as well as hinder them from getting good quality sleep.
How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?
The previous recommends limiting children time on TV to not more than 1 to 2 hours a day. Of course, picking appropriate media or shows for children matters, as well.
Furthermore, Anya Kamenetz, an NPR reporter and author of The Art of Screen Time reports additional tips with regards to how much time children should spend on television. The report also suggests 3 simple rules in addition to limiting time and picking appropriate shows.
The 3 simple rules are;
- Enjoy screens
- Not too much
- Mostly together
To further understand these rules, Anya Kamenetz explains more in the video below.
Breaking Your Child’s Screen Addiction
With today’s hectic world, sometimes we neglect our children. Due to our busy schedules and works either at home or office, we often use television to babysit the children.
However, letting this situation become a habit for both you and your child, it can result in a child’s addiction to screen. And, this does not only apply to television but to smartphones and computers.
If you think your child is getting addicted to screens, watch Bill Corbett explains. He is the author of Love, Limits, and Lessons – A Parent’s Guide to Raising Cooperative Kids.
Addiction is everywhere from alcohol, drugs, masturbation, sex, porn to food addictions. Perhaps, there is even more including screen addiction, in this case. Addressing addiction in its early stage is always better and easier.
One particular activity that can potentially break addition of any kind is mindfulness. However, make sure you should take notice of the symptoms, so you can help your child as early as possible.