We live in a world full of screens. You’re probably reading this on your smartphone or tablet, and the fact is that screens will not be going away any time soon. For some, the prevalence of the portable screen has become the bane of society; while for others, it has become the world at their fingertips. There are a number of opinions on the topic. However, we want to take you into a different area of understanding on this topic - screen time for your children.
GENERATION ALPHA
Ever since the first smartphones came out, there has been an increasing shift toward personal screen use. Those of us who grew up in the stone age before the IPhone and IPad remember when you had to turn on the TV for all the world to see. We remember the constant battle for control of the remote so we could watch our show instead of our sibling’s. Now, you can get whatever content you want whenever you want, and wherever you want. Between social media and streaming content, the average daily use of a screen for teens is up to 8.5 hours a day. For preteens, it is about 5.5 hours a day. That’s a sizable chunk of time. While it may seem excessive for teens, we want to take the focus to children from 12 years old and younger. This is Generation Alpha, the digital natives.
We all want our kids to succeed in learning, so the focus of this article is to educate parents of children in this age group on the benefits and dangers of screen time. With over a decade of data in our hands, it is apparent that devices and screens are a two-edged sword. A simple internet search will provide a number of articles and opinions on the effects of screen time. Before we get into the specifics, we need to realize that screens are not going anywhere. Banning them from a child will only lead to that child running head on into a detrimental activity when he becomes an adult, and that is the last thing that needs to happen. What we need to do is manage how our children interact with technology so that it provides the greatest benefit and the least risk.
“On average, children ages 8-12 in the United States spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens, and teens spend up to 9 hours.”
AN OPEN DOOR TO THE WORLD
Many adults remember when the internet went public. It was like the world was put at our fingertips. Then, mobile computing happened and now we had access to the world in our pockets. I personally enjoy seeing friends and family from across the world when I’m talking to them, and don’t get me started on the rabbit holes of information available at our fingertips. With all of the technology available, it has never been easier to deliver information and it’s a tool we use in our classrooms. As a student, I was limited by the ability of my teacher and the curriculum at hand. As a teacher, I can deliver an expert to my students within seconds, or we can model information that was not possible a generation ago. There is a wonderful world out there, and the right approach can unlock the door of knowledge for our students.
A POTENTIAL OBSTACLE
Our brains are in constant development during childhood, making millions of neural connections that build upon each other. Not only are we making connections, but our mind is constantly pruning off connections that no longer matter. This is the maturing process. It occurs through the constant mixture of learning, doing, assessing, and even boredom. Children have an insatiable curiosity about the world around them. Combined with little knowledge and experience, you have a recipe for investigation. It is these moments when meaningful connections are made and lifelong memories implant themselves deep into the core of our brain. We use these connections to inform ourselves about our world and gain deeper understanding as those connections are broadened.
However, studies have shown that putting children in front of screens for long periods of time has enduring side effects, notably: sleep problems, lower grades in school, less time with family and friends, not enough outdoor or physical activity, weight and mood problems, and less time learning other ways to relax and have fun. Physically, it has been shown to thin the area of the brain where our memories are stored, impairing a child’s ability to recall information quickly and accurately. Limit the time your child spends in front of a screen and make him or her spend time solving real world problems, being creative, or just playing with real objects and his or her imagination.
RECOMMENDATIONS
It might seem like it’s time to throw out the screens and go for the old pen and paper. While that may be tempting, it won’t last. Our lives are too intertwined in digital technology. Instead, parents should limit how much time their children have in front of any screen, as well as controlling the content that comes across that screen. Here are some helpful tips for healthy screen use.
AGE RECOMMENDATIONS
Under 2 - no screen time
Ages 2-5 - no more than one hour of screen time a day, and only educational programming
Ages 5-12 - limit activities and content. Focus on offline activities for most stimulus
OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS
Cut out screen time during family time.
Eliminate background screen time during homework times.
Remove screens at least 60 minutes before bedtime.
Enact parental controls to limit content and access.
Don’t use screens as a babysitter or pacifier.
Working on using screens as tools for our children will benefit them in the long run. Aside from moral dangers, we must be careful not to allow screens to pose an addictive danger that limits our children to a virtual world that is not all that it seems.