Many crucial activities, including education and skill development, require the use of mobiles and computers. No wonder, children are sometimes overexposed to screen and may suffer adverse effects on their mental well-being. Here is how we can strike a balance.
Signs of over-exposure
Each child is different, and so are their usage patterns and needs. There is no fixed yardstick for how much screen time is acceptable for a child. However, spending too much time on screen can negatively affect a child’s attention span, sleep quality, social interactions and behaviour.
Paying attention to the child’s behaviour and his/her responses in specific situations can help determine whether the child is over-using a phone or computer. If a child cannot concentrate on activities or is avoiding physical activities and outdoor games because of excessive mobile use, may be those are the early signs of them becoming addicted to screens. Sleep problems, eyesight issues, and the inability to stop using a phone when asked to do so are some other signs that the child is probably going overboard with her screen time.
Sustained exposure to screens may lead to serious anxiety issues and stress. These may induce obesity, hypertension and other health issues in the long term. Exposure to inappropriate content and social media-induced fear of missing out (FOMO) among teenagers are also serious consequences of excessive screen use. It can hinder the overall personality development of the child.
Corrective steps
As mobiles and computers cannot be avoided altogether, there is a need to inculcate digital discipline among children. A few mobile applications can be used for digital detox. Setting up reasonable usage limits for mobile phones and individual applications can be a good start. Positive steps such as earmarking time for outdoor games, reading physical books and small daily chores may help the child stay away from screens.
Parents can design digital free zones at home, which may include the dining table, toilets, and bedrooms. This small step can make the child rethink their screen usage. Parents should also set an example by limiting their own screen time. Digital activities carried out together can also help build a stronger bond with the child. For example, watching an educational video of common interest together can help the child to stay focused while using their mobile phone and also connect better with her parents.
Simple habits, such as not using mobile phones for one hour before going to sleep and one hour after waking up, can effectively reduce screen time and also improve sleep quality.
Digital well-being
While reducing screen time is half the work done, parents in today’s era have to be extra-careful about their child’s presence in the digital world.
This is especially true for younger children. The content they watch needs to be monitored. Young children need to be sensitised to online risks such as cyberbullying, financial frauds and crimes such as digital arrest. They should also be made aware of harmful elements on the dark web as well as of malwares. In some cases, parental control measures work better for younger children. For teenagers, instead of imposing bans, a conversational approach may work better. Online safety is as important as safety in the offline world.
Digital discipline can help to protect children from such risks in the online world while also reducing their screentime. Digital mannerisms, or netiquettes, can be taught at home to encourage effective use of digital means. Since we cannot avoid the digital world, we should learn to use it wisely to our advantage with minimum downside.
