BAD EFFECTS OF EXCESS SCREEN TIME ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH

Today's children are growing up with screens at their fingertips. They have never had to live without smart phones, tablets or the internet. But studies show that too much screen time can have a negative impact on children's health.

Their brains can actually change, according to The American Academy of Pediatrics. Negative impacts of too much screen time on child health:

OBESITY: When children are inactive, staring at their screens, they are not burning calories. This sedentary lifestyle can cause them to gain weight and acquire diseases like diabetes and hypertension at early age. 

SLEEP DISTURBANCES: Looking at screens before bed can disrupt sleep cycle and therefore cause irritability and mood disturbances, also poor concentration span and poor learning abilities. Academic performance also suffers. 

BULLYING AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS: especially in adolescents leading to more aggressiveness, combativeness and increase in suicide and homicide rates. 

PROPENSITY FOR VIOLENCE: Children who are exposed to violent media, such as movies, music and video games, can become desensitized to violence. They may imitate what they see on TV, or even try to use violence to solve their problems.

Thinking power, creative skills, cognitive development of brain and language development also suffers, especially in children spending more than 2hours a day on screen. Psycho social development is hampered as kids spend less playtime with each other. 

American Academy of Paediatrics has given recommendations for screen time as follows:

·         less than 18 month old- no screen time

·         18-24 month- only high quality media with parents 

·         2-5 years - less than 1 hour a day of high quality media along with parents

Few simple ways to reduce screen time:

1.ENGAGE your kids in activities like drawing, sketching, clay modelling, craft work which will increase their creative skills. 

                                                         

2.GARDENING is another good activity which kids can be involved in to along with parents, make them water plants routinely. 

3.ENGAGE your kids in routine cleaning and house keeping activities at home, which makes them self dependent and also enhances bond between parents and kids. They can be involved in simple, safe cooking practices also with mother. 

4.ENCOURAGE your children to spend more time outdoor -playing games, having fun interacting with other kids. 

5.PARENTS should take out their children routinely for outdoor fun,  for picnics, walk in gardens showing birds, animals, trees, butterflies, squirrels etc. , discovering the beauty of nature. 

6.TODDLERS and young children should be kept busy in some constructional games, puzzles, blocks, drawing, clay modelling. 

7.PARENTS can make kids listen music, do dance, play musical instruments, which is good for development of brain. Kids need more attention and time of parents rather than these devices. A mobile drop box can be kept at home in which every family member puts his mobile at meal times and at bedtimes. 

For the complete physical, mental, psycho social and emotional development of our children it is must to reduce their screen time, let them explore their childhood to the best and lay a strong foundation for their future. 

Whenever in doubt consult your pediatrician 

Dr Nivedita Kapoor

Best Newborn and Child Specialist in Gaur City -2 

Greater Noida West,Noida Extension