DIGITAL DETOX Dealing with screen addiction
Schoolwork can suffer when media time infringes on reading and studying. And the sedentary nature of most electronic involvement along with televised ads for high-calorie fare can foster the unhealthy weights already epidemic among the nation’s youth.
Screen addiction is condition that is spreading far and wide. No adult or child is left untouched, the flickering screen holding their attentions in a vice-like grip. It devoids the individual of any comprehensible social skills, eyes glued to whatever is on screen. Countless hours are viled away at the expense of social growth. With the summer holidays apon us, children are left with little to do. Therefore, it is very easy to gravitate towards their tabs, PSP’S and other forms of computer based entertainment. In fact, I have observed that my children will, upon waking, gravitate towards the T.V, then once shooed from there will find their tabs or phones as the next distraction. Any sort of electronic based screen is acceptable. Screen addiction is not only on their smart phones but includes the passive entertainment acquired sitting in-front of the T.V.
Effects of screen addiction
Parents, grateful for ways to calm their disruptive children are unaware of the damages acquired from a child spending so much time in the virtual world. In fact the electronic screen is used as a means by which to calm an emotional child, the child is not allowed to work through their emotions, to learn to reason to understand and to address the issues affecting his behaviour. Instead, the introduction of a momentary transportation into the world of virtual reality provides a solution but leaves the problem of behaviour unsolved.
The paediatric academy stipulates that children under the age of 2 should not be exposed to any sort of electronic devices. Since a child’s brain develops rapidly during this time period and younger children learn best by interacting with others rather than through screens. Older children should use their imagination as a form of entertainment. Playing outdoors, pursuing hobbies and so forth are the key activities that a child should engage in as they are growing up. These positive interests influence, mold and help the child grow.
As the lure of the screen and its entry into the virtual world reels that child in, they sacrifice many of their social skills. Children, during family visits are glued to the screen rather than cultivating the relationships around them. Technology is a poor substitute for personal interaction. Children’s ability to learn and comprehend is also slowed down. Since the screen offers passive stimulation, they lose out on the ability to understand, reason and compute on their own. Even reading is affected everything is offered in video form, they listen and understand, rather than read and comprehend.
Schoolwork can suffer when media time infringes on reading and studying. And the sedentary nature of most electronic involvement — along with televised ads for high-calorie fare — can foster the unhealthy weights already epidemic among the nation’s youth.
It has also been found that children who spend a large amount of time playing violent video games or watching violent shows on T.V are found to be more aggressive and pick fights with their peers and also have issues listening to authorities.
There can be physical consequences, too. Children can develop pain in their fingers and wrists, narrowed blood vessels in their eyes (the long-term consequences of which are unknown), and neck and back pain from being slumped over their phones, tablets and computers.
How to cure your screen addicts?
Obviously the cons against screen addiction are overwhelming and drastic measures have to be taken to help our children and sometimes ourselves. Here are some helpful hints 1. Many with older kids have already have several years of screen addiction under their belt. It is not going to be easy to all of a sudden to decide tomorrow to take away tabs and other forms of virtual reality access. All hell will break loose, as the saying goes. Instead have a contract, a discussion, an agreement on how, where and how much screen time is to be engaged in.
2. Have screen free zones. Certain areas, like the dinner table, family room etc are screen free zones. Children and adults alike are not allowed to plug into any sort of electronic devices in these areas, thus making interactions more amiable. 3. Just unplug the T.V. Children really don’t have to watch copious amounts of T.V. Give them another alternative, play outdoors, go see a movie. This is a short duration and a fun activity to be adhered to by all.
4. If a child doesn’t have a screen, be it smart phone, T.V or any other device, they will find alternative forms of entertainment, Get them to rides bikes, run races, skateboards, these are growing children and these are the precious moments to be enjoyed in their childhoods.
In their formative years it is important to get the right balance with respect to screen addiction. Children still need to engage, be sociable, play sports and not rely on a hand held portable device as their only companion. You as the parent are responsible. Act responsibly.