Today's parenting challenges may be more challenging than at any other time in history, with children growing up in a digital age. How do we ensure that screen time doesn't impair their abilities? How do we protect them from viewing pornography? And how do we know if social media is damaging their self-esteem?
In 2019, the World Health Organization recommended that children under the age of two be banned from screen time, while children between the ages of two and five should not spend more than one hour per day in front of a screen.
But the reality was completely different. In the same year, a survey of 2,000 British families with children under the age of 14 found that "children spend about 23 hours a week staring at their smartphones and similar screens."
By 2020, experts noted that children's screen time had doubled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and they were spending more time in front of screens during lockdown than ever before.
This was observed in a survey conducted in the United States, which included 3,000 families. It showed that nearly half of children between the ages of 5 and 15 spend more than 6 hours a day in front of a screen, a 500% increase compared to before the lockdown.
85% of parents said they were "concerned about their children's screen time" after noticing that remote learning had encouraged this phenomenon more.
In an article published on the American website "Psychology Today ," writer Amanda L. Giordano highlights some points to consider to help parents make important decisions about their children's use of technology and the time they spend in front of screens.
How much is needed?
Parents often ask, "How much time should their children spend on their smartphones?" Unfortunately, this question is no longer valid. Instead, several factors should be considered, such as:
- Type of digital media and content consumed (games, social media, pornography, news, videos, apps, text messages, educational content).
- The child's individual characteristics (age, maturity level, personality, and mental health).
Motivation to use technology (escape from problems, boredom, social interaction, feeling of satisfaction, achievement, learning).
Circumstance and context (alone, with peers, with known and unknown people).
The amount of time spent using technology and doing other things (sleeping, homework, physical activity, offline socializing, hobbies, outside experiences).
Family values
(The extent to which a particular type of digital media and specific content is compatible with family values).
The author added that many researchers have referred to the term "digital diet," meaning that a child's use of digital media is similar to a diet. Technology can be compared to candy: a reward that stimulates a quick dose of dopamine, but it also carries risks and harms. The answer depends on a number of factors, as the goal of any healthy regimen is balance.
Children's brains develop through experience. They need a variety of experiences to develop neural pathways and for learning to occur. So perhaps an important question to consider is: What experiences don't occur when your child uses a smartphone?
Based on your child's daily physical activity, sleep, school hours, homework, mealtime, and chores, what is an appropriate amount of digital media consumption? And how much time should be allocated to other diverse activities and experiences?
When is a child allowed to browse social media sites?
The author pointed out that the answer to this question also depends on a number of factors. Before purchasing or installing any game or social media app, parents should conduct their own research, such as reading reviews, searching for ratings, and understanding the risks and benefits.
When it comes to your child's use of different forms of technology, it may be helpful to think of it as a continuum of accessibility. For example, your child may start out using their phone only for voice and video calls. Then, as they mature, they can use text messaging (using their parent's phone), and over time, they can use specific apps and watch online videos (with parental controls enabled on the phone).
Then the child becomes able to play (without interacting with strangers, only games with appropriate ratings, and parental controls), then he may be able to create a social media account and use messaging apps (with parents having access to all devices for regular monitoring), and finally he may reach a stage where he can take advantage of all the functions of a smartphone or other device.
Family Technology Plan
The author explains that as the brain continues to mature until around age 25, children and teens need guidance in their use of technology, so it's a good idea to develop a family plan for technology use.
It is suggested that this plan include:
When can devices be used? (e.g., after homework and before dinner).
When is it prohibited to use devices? (e.g., before school, during mealtimes, right before bedtime).
How long can devices be used before taking a break? (e.g., 30 minutes for the Internet, 1 hour for TV).
What types of digital media are acceptable? (e.g., YouTube Kids, exercise videos).
What type of contact is acceptable? (e.g., only with those known to the child with parental consent.)
Read also. : Are you part of the "sandwich generation"? How do you face its psychological and economic challenges?
0 Comments