Limiting Screen time for Children
The risks of too much technology for adolescents.
DELAWARE – Laptops, cell phones, and tablets- These are all school necessities and a part of our everyday lives. In fact, you’re using a device to read this very article. The question is, in an age of technology, is it possible to limit screen exposure for children? And if so, how?
Dr. Leah Orchinik is a Pediatric Psychologist at Nemours Children’s Health in Delaware. She believes social media does help certain children make friends, but for young children, it’s best they avoid it entirely. “The technology and social media we’re in a digital age, it’s here to stay it’s not going anywhere… What has been pretty clearly shown is that for kids under age 2, there really isn’t any benefit to having any screen time whatsoever. Having over an hour of screen time for kids that age can actually have effects such as developmental delays.”
Martina Gonzalez is a resident of Greenwood, Delaware, and a single mother. She gives us an example of how her child, Marcellus uses technology daily. “My son is 4. I would say he uses it honestly, 50% of the day… I am a single mom, so, unfortunately, people might judge me for this, -but I do use screen time to do other tasks in the house.” She does tell us that she puts limits on her son’s apps and screen time usage, and there’s no technology during mealtime. However, she does admit electronic devices help make life easier. “So it’s a good tool that I use sometimes to keep him preoccupied while I’m doing other things. I do try really hard to balance it out though.”
Dr. Orchinik says too much screen time can change the way the brain develops and how kids process rewards based off likes and comments and that this could eventually lead to deeper emotional issues. “What we do know for teenagers that spend over 3 hours a day on social media, that actually increases their risk of anxiety and depression- twice, so they’re twice as likely to have those symptoms. She says there can be educational benefits, but, when everything revolves around a screen and kids become dishonest, parents should be concerned. “Other signs include not being able to stop when they want to. so maybe they have something they want to go do, and it feels like they just have to do one more thing or send one more thing or can’t stop, kind of interacting.”
Martina isn’t so sure that screen time can be managed. “I don’t think there’s a realistic way to truly cut it out, I mean you just have to find that balance in what works for you and your family to make it work, so they are not obsessed with it, so that they don’t get controlled by it, so they understand screen time is not the most important.” Dr. Orchinik said that phones are designed to be addictive and that parents have to monitor the use and content kids and teenagers are viewing because they won’t be able to regulate themselves on their own. “It is a lot harder to take away screens and social media and apps, once you’ve given those permissions… I do think it can be managed, it’s hard. and it requires a lot of work from parents and caregivers.”
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, side effects of too much screen time include sleeping problems, poor self-image and lower grades in school. They suggest parents try setting limits and boundaries using parental controls, when necessary, turn off all screens an hour before bed, and talk to your kids about why less screen time can be healthier.
