Did you know that the negative effects of too much time spent in front of screens by children include reduced attention span and a reduced sense of empathy? Also, the more time your child spends in front of screens of any kind, the more likely they are to struggle to fall asleep.
Another aspect that can be ignored by some parents is the fact that children need their “dose” of boredom. This is how they learn how to manage what bothers them and how to control their impulses. If children are constantly stimulated by screens, they forget how to spend time quietly with their thoughts, without distraction. This leads to frustration and blocks imagination or motivation.
Besides, the excessive time spent in front of the screen leaves less time for active and creative play.
Although the time spent in front of the screens can have an educational purpose for children, it is easy to exceed the limit and, without realizing it, to use the devices in excess. Many specialists do not recommend their use for children under 2 years, and no more than 1-2 hours per day for adults.
If your child feels their eyes dry, sees blurry, or has headaches, it may be due to long screen viewing.
If you want to limit the time your child spends in front of the screens, you can try the following ideas:
- Areas without technology
Delimit certain areas of your home, such as the dining room, where laptops, phones, or any other devices are not allowed. Dedicate this place to pleasant conversations between family members.
- Set timelines for disconnection
Create a schedule with intervals in which all family members disconnect from the technology. Dinner time or bedtime are two examples. Use this time to spend quality time together.
- Encourage other activities
With the multitude of applications, games, and existing devices, it’s easy for kids to rely on electronics when they want to have fun. Encourage your child to engage in activities beyond electronic screens. Put some kids’ clothes on, play outside, read a book, or try a new board game.
How do we make the time that kids spend in front of a screen affect them as little as possible?
- Activate the blue light filter from the settings. This prevents headaches, tired eyes, or sleep issues.
- Encourages physical activity while looking at screens. Have your little one lie down or do yoga while watching his favorite cartoon. Take a race to see who can make the most jumps during an advertising break. Choose video games that encourage physical activity.
- Keep your distance. Make sure the little one is far enough from the screen.
- Every 20 minutes, tell your little one to look 10 meters away for 20 seconds.
It is important to remember that technology can be a valuable component of learning. Children access computers and tablets at school and use them to do their homework. Look for beneficial activities for the little one to do with the help of a computer or phone. Find out what his favorite games are and explore them together to the limit, in a productive way and as healthy as possible.
