Parents may unknowingly nurture screen addiction in their children
Times 14.03.2019
Parents are often guilty of handing over a smartphone or tablet to their toddlers to get them to eat, stay quiet or keep them entertained. But beware, as this habit can not only make them sedentary but also push them into severe digital addiction in their formative years. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), only 15-20 minutes of screen exposure is healthy and acceptable for babies under 18 months of age.
However, busy schedules and an overprotective approach towards the physical safety of toddlers have increasingly convinced parents, especially in the metros, to hook their children onto smart screens, say experts.
This can push toddlers to laziness and permanently damage their cognitive abilities such as solving problems, paying attention to other people and falling asleep on time. It can also hinder their holistic development, damage their eyesight and cause childhood obesity.
Since screen exposure is inescapable for toddlers, parents are being advised by experts to engage their children in “open-ended” content on screens. This would help them to be creative in interacting with the app, which could contribute as cognitive development than mere reward or distraction. However, screen exposure for a short period under supervision cannot be harmful.
Once children get used to smart displays, trying to cut down their screen time later could result in problematic withdrawal symptoms like disobedience, repetitive demanding and tantrums.
For digital detox, experts say parents should create and maintain device-free zones at home, especially at dining tables and in bedrooms for kids as well as for themselves. IANS
Times 14.03.2019
Parents are often guilty of handing over a smartphone or tablet to their toddlers to get them to eat, stay quiet or keep them entertained. But beware, as this habit can not only make them sedentary but also push them into severe digital addiction in their formative years. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), only 15-20 minutes of screen exposure is healthy and acceptable for babies under 18 months of age.
However, busy schedules and an overprotective approach towards the physical safety of toddlers have increasingly convinced parents, especially in the metros, to hook their children onto smart screens, say experts.
This can push toddlers to laziness and permanently damage their cognitive abilities such as solving problems, paying attention to other people and falling asleep on time. It can also hinder their holistic development, damage their eyesight and cause childhood obesity.
Since screen exposure is inescapable for toddlers, parents are being advised by experts to engage their children in “open-ended” content on screens. This would help them to be creative in interacting with the app, which could contribute as cognitive development than mere reward or distraction. However, screen exposure for a short period under supervision cannot be harmful.
Once children get used to smart displays, trying to cut down their screen time later could result in problematic withdrawal symptoms like disobedience, repetitive demanding and tantrums.
For digital detox, experts say parents should create and maintain device-free zones at home, especially at dining tables and in bedrooms for kids as well as for themselves. IANS
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