Most of us have social media accounts and spend part of our day scrolling. This has become the norm as phones and devices have become an integral part of daily life. As adults we manage our device time with little fuss and I’m sure for the majority there is an awareness of the time we actually spend on devices and we adjust this accordingly if necessary. However, children are not equipped with adult logic. Their brains are not developed enough to fully manage themselves where devices are concerned and that’s where parents and caregivers need to step in and ensure they have a safe routine that everyone is happy with. 

Most children don’t think too far into the future, but the frightening thing is that excessive screen time will result in long term effects on their brains and ultimately their learning capacity.

It’s very easy to grant permission to pick up a device and have screen time and I’m not saying that’s a totally bad thing, as long as screen time is a treat and limited to short bursts. As parents we always want to make our children happy and clearly device time does that, so in the short term everyone wins. The bigger picture tells a different story though! 

Below is an extract from some research undertaken in America. It makes interesting reading! 

‘Excessive screen media usage in children can have both positive and negative impacts on their development. Regarding cognitive development, screens have the potential to enhance education and learning. However, studies have shown that excessive screen time and media multitasking can negatively affect executive functioning, sensorimotor development, and academic outcomes. Early screen exposure has been associated with lower cognitive abilities and academic performance in later years. Language development is also affected by screen time, as it diminishes the quantity and quality of interactions between children and caregivers. Contextual factors such as co-viewing and appropriateness of content play a role in determining the impact on language development. Excessive screen usage can also lead to problems in social-emotional development, including obesity, sleep disturbances, depression, and anxiety. It can impair emotional comprehension, promote aggressive behavior, and hinder social and emotional competence.

Parents play a crucial role in managing and reducing screen time by raising awareness, setting boundaries, and providing behavioral controls. Parental limitations and the absence of screens in bedrooms have been found to significantly reduce screen usage. Parents should also set an example by managing their own screen time. Overall, it is important for caregivers, educators, and healthcare professionals to understand the potential risks of excessive screen usage and implement strategies to promote healthy development in children, including alternative activities that foster cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional skills.’

With that research in mind I think this goes a step further when children ask for their own social media accounts. I have written a separate blog on this but it goes hand in hand with this one when discussing devices and screen time. The reel @emmanicolet put out yesterday sums up the need really take on board the research and help our children to become more aware of the dangers of not only prolonged screen time but also social media use.

We all want the best for our children. We all want them to succeed in whatever they choose to do when they grow up, so it’s  frightening to think that granting permission for screen time may impact on their future dreams. It feels like an act of kindness but the truth is we might not be enhancing little lives at all.