Here’s Why Parents Should Limit Their Kids Screen Time
You may not like it when your kids play games or chat on the mobile for hours. In fact, games like PUBG and social media sites like Instagram has pulled the attention of so many children as well as adults. But what can parents do? They do everything in their power to fulfill the wishes of their kids.
Okay, if you as a parent want to fulfill the wishes of your kid, please make sure that you read the potential risks associated with watching digital screen for long hours.
Risk #1 – More Screen Time is Equal to Obesity
It doesn’t matter whether you use a mobile phone or computer, you end up relaxing yourself. Sometimes, you crave for carbohydrates. On the internet, you may either get sad or happy. A single emotional video is enough to make you feel miserable. Similarly, while playing a video game, you may experience both moods. And you know what? Studies have shown that sad people tend to crave more for high-calorie foods. Thus, keep a check on what your kids are doing on the computer or mobile. Otherwise, they may build up fat that may lead to other diseases in the future.
Risk #2 – Vision Problems
First of all, we recommend you to install a blue light filter app. In a recent NEI-funded research, it has been found out that the children’s eyes absorb more blue light as compared to adults. Eye fatigue, dry eyes, and even floaters are common among digital users. If your kids are already having issues because of the screen, then they may experience irritation in the eyes as a symptom. Later on, the irritation may make eyes fatigue, red, and even dry.
Risk #3 – Poor Sleep
Do you know blue light also suppresses the sleep-driving hormone melatonin? Once it happens, it vanishes our restful sleep. In fact, a survey has shown that those people who read from E-reader instead of printed books tend to take 10 minutes more to fall asleep. As you know, blue light is a trouble for the melatonin. Once it gets hurt, the whole sleep cycle faces the interruption. Some people claim that prolonged use of digital screen causes mood swings. Well, if we go into the depth of their theory, it appears that when sleep erupts, mood automatically deteriorates.
Risk #4 – Depression
When kids get addicted to TV, mobile, or laptop screen; they forget to spend time with their family. In such a scenario, they talk less with their parents. At some point, completing the next level of a video game or replying back to a text message becomes way crucial than real life.
When kids began to talk less with their parents, they become more depressed because they do not share what went wrong throughout the day.
Believe it or not, kids develop anxiety for digital devices. Some wanted to watch the next episode on TV, some want to play games, and some want to text on mobile.
Risk #5 – Learning Disability
In India, more than 10 million cases of dyslexia appear annually. Some people claim that dyslexia only happens to those people who have some sort of genetic disorder. However, this isn’t the case. The real cause behind such disorder is digital devices. Kids who spend most of the time with digital devices have distracted their attention and impaired their learning ability.
Apart from the technological perspective, we can also say that kids’ behavior changes a lot because of the internet. As a result, kids are found doing unhealthy activities that may harm them as well as the other people.
How Should You Limit Kids Screen Time?
Here’s a chart that illustrates the age-wise screen time limitation:
|
Age |
Screen Time Limit |
|
2 years or younger |
Not at all |
|
2-5 Years old |
30 minutes |
|
5-12 years old |
60-90 minutes |
|
Over 12 years old |
120 minutes |
Kids don’t follow your advice, they follow your actions.
To limit their screen time, you will have to restrict your own first.
And if possible, never shout at them to make them understand. You do not need to tell them, you need to show them the adverse consequences of using digital devices through reason and persuasion.
