THE ‘SCREENDEMIC’ THAT’S HIT CHILDREN’S EYESIGHT

I WAS disturbed to learn about the latest example of coronavirus collateral damage – children’s eyesight. A new study has warned of worryingly high numbers of children developing short-sightedness since the start of the pandemic.

I’m sure it’s the result of the perfect storm I’ve been talking about for months: too much time spent at home staring at screens and limited access to eye tests. As a mother of teenagers, I know how tempting it is to let children scroll through social media for hours. But the long-term risks are serious, for both mental health and vision.

So how can you avoid it? Encourage kids to get outside for at least two hours a day, either broken up or in one big chunk. In my house, I’ve also introduced a ‘phone drawer’ – devices are locked in there when we come home from work or school at least twice a week. Children might moan for a few minutes, but it’s worth it in the long run.