As technology becomes pervasive in our work and private lives our children are picking this up as well. Therefore, understanding how we interact with it is increasingly important. Addiction disorders associated with children’s interaction with games and the internet are increasing scientific research and is a big topic of discussion in this day and age. By calling it an addiction parents are communicating that there is an unhealthy problem as well as feeling like they are powerless to stop it. You’ve tried your best and no matter what you do your child’s favorite activity is to spend the day using technology. Like most parents out there the struggle is setting boundaries with technology that the family will respect. Technology is so deeply rooted in everything now, that children can develop a technology addiction without even noticing. Teaching children healthy habits like teaching boundaries and no screen time before bed are solutions that will help improve technology addiction in children. Unplugging from technology can bring many benefits by promoting family bonding time, improving mental health, and also promotes healthy sleeping habits.
The findings will help shape the way parents deal with changing technology at home in the future. In a report released by Common Sense Media said “children up to age 8 spend an average of 2 hours and 19 minutes every day on screen media. For 8 to 12-year-olds, the average time spent using screen media every day was 4 hours and 36 minutes. Teens spent an average of 4½ hours per day with screen media and 6 hours with all media, including reading and listening to music. With these stats it is no wonder parents are scared of calling it an addiction. When introducing technology devices to children parents have to be prepared to provide clear guidelines with regards to the use of technology. By providing a balance child will know there are rules and rules will teach them healthy concepts of technology use. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP 2013) has previously suggested 1–2 hours/night of non-school/work-related use of electronic devices. Not only do parents need to aim for balance but also lead by example. A study published in the journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics; it was observed that 73 percent of caregivers (such as parents) tend to use their devices during a meal.
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Teaching children healthy habits like time limits on technology can go along way into this technology addiction that children all over the world are developing. Parents should start setting time limits on anything technology. Parents who possess to separate their children from their smartphone may be helping their kids brain power according to a new study. Children who use smartphones and other devices in their free time for less than two hours a day performed better on cognitive tests assessing their thinking, language and memory, according to a study published on September 2018 in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. Also, The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests “ZERO screen time until kids reach between 18 and 24 months of age.”
Sleeping is an essential part of children’s development and wellbeing. Sleeping is important for learning, memory, emotions, and behaviors. However, many children are receiving less and less sleep. There are potentially many reasons behind this trend but one thing that is emerging is that screen time may be playing a large role. The use of technology can lead to delays in the time that children and adolescents go to bed and consequently, shorter sleep. “Kids who use screens within an hour of bedtime and during the night experience jetlag-like symptoms that make it harder for them to fall asleep, stay asleep and wake refreshed in the morning. In general, kids shouldn’t use screens an hour before bed. And they shouldn’t have phones, tablets and computers in their bedrooms.” (Daily, 2019). A suggestion would be to have a charging zone where children can place all devices to charge at night that way it is removed from their bedroom. It is becoming clear that limiting screen time in the period leading up to bedtime is beneficial for sleep. Removing electronic devices from the bedroom provides a good sleep environment and promotes healthy sleeping habits.
While managing your own screen time is tough enough, overseeing your child’s use might be even more difficult. Teaching healthy habits and helping children find balance from technology addiction can be done but supervising every single second is impossible. This is why parental control tools can be helpful to parents by helping keep track of how much time is being spent online and allowing to set schedules for screen time. This leads to the question how much is too much time, what should be my set schedules? “The recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics is that children less than 18 years of age spend no more than two hours a day on screen time. Toddlers 2 years old and younger should not have any screen time at all.” (Maric, 2017) The use of technology has become a part of daily life. However, when it comes to children and technology addiction limiting screen time is proactive and something all parents should do. Some school aged kids may need technology as part of their school homework, research papers, or projects. However, screen time should be balanced with activities such as sleep, exercise, and family activities. How can one implement these things? By setting time limits, no screens at nighttime, and by setting parental controls.
Although one set of rules does not work for every child or family you must take into consideration child’s age, health, education, and entertainment needs. On October 21, 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced new recommendations regarding the use of media for children: The AAP recommends that parents and caregivers develop a family media plan that takes into account the health, education and entertainment needs of each child as well as the whole family. A media plan is a schedule for screen time, media use and other activities. You begin by entering your child’s age and then add items such as screen-free zones and times, device curfews, and offline activities. The Family Media Plan allows you to customize different options for multiple children. Setting these limits will help children get into a routine as well as set the boundaries that the parents want to achieve. In general, kids shouldn’t use screens an hour before bed. And they shouldn’t have phones, tablets and computers in their bedrooms.” (Daily, 2019). A suggestion would be to have a charging zone where children can place all devices to charge at night that way it is removed from their bedroom.
You and your child may now understand that screen time limits are necessary, but it can be tough at times to enforce it. And that can apply to adults as well as children. So, here is another tool to help set and adhere to those limits. On both Windows and Mac computers, you can use the native parental controls to limit your child’s screen time. So, if you prefer to use these built-in tools rather than an application or browser extension, it is a good option. Keep in mind that this will limit their overall computer time and not just the internet. If your family uses Chrome or Firefox browsers, both offer helpful extensions for limiting online time. Goodnight Chrome is only available on Chrome. This cool tool lets you set the Unplug and Return times and the days of the week. There are also plenty of applications for free you can get installed in your devices like your phones and tablets. “The application Boomerang Parental Control is a unique piece of software that gives parents remote control of their non-iOS devices. This application is also available on the iOS platform however there are some limitations. Boomerang establishes screen time and boundaries for your child’s device. It also helps you start conversations with your child about their device usage, good apps, bad apps, web browsing, video viewing and more. Control your kid’s Android devices easily from your Android or iOS parent device.”
Technology addiction is epidemic in today’s society and is bad for physical and mental health especially in young children. Unplugging from technology can bring many benefits to children and too the family as a whole. By unplugging from technology, it promotes family bonding time, improved mental health, and also promotes healthy sleeping habits. Constantly being online robs precious moment that can be spend bonding with family. Scheduling periodic downtime on evenings and weekends give an opportunity to spend quality time with family. By being constantly on technology this can hurt the ability to concentrate on important task, as well as ability for the child to relax, and enjoy life and socialize with others. Unplugging periodically can help the child be more present and learn from others by observation. Parents who possess to separate their children from their smartphone may be helping their kids brain power according to a new study. Children who use smartphones and other devices in their free time for less than two hours a day performed better on cognitive tests assessing their thinking, language and memory, according to a study published on September 2018 in the Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. Also, The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests “ZERO screen time until kids reach between 18 and 24 months of age.”
The stress of online stimulation can strain the mind as well as nerves. Feeling fatigued, anxious, irritable or even aggressive are all feeling you can feel by that constant stimulation. Having too much screen time in young children comes with a price to pay. “For young children, the impact may be felt as screen time replaces time previously devoted to play, peer interaction and exploration, which are thought to foster empathy, problem-solving skills, curiosity, intelligence, and listening skills” says Catherine Steiner-Adair. Also, a recent study with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital showed that screen time and time spent reading showed different effects in the regions of the brain related to language and cognitive control. Overall technology addiction in children is growing and parents need to set limits so that this does not happen.
Another benefit to unplugging from technology is it will promote better sleeping habits in young children. Sleeping is an essential part of children’s development and wellbeing. Sleeping is important for learning, memory, emotions, and behaviors. However, many children are receiving less and less sleep. There are potentially many reasons behind this trend but one thing that is emerging is that screen time may be playing a large role. The use of technology can lead to delays in the time that children and adolescents go to bed and consequently, shorter sleep. “Kids who use screens within an hour of bedtime and during the night experience jetlag-like symptoms that make it harder for them to fall asleep, stay asleep and wake refreshed in the morning. In general, kids shouldn’t use screens an hour before bed. And they shouldn’t have phones, tablets and computers in their bedrooms.” (Daily, 2019). A suggestion would be to have a charging zone where children can place all devices to charge at night that way it is removed from their bedroom. It is becoming clear that limiting screen time in the period leading up to bedtime is beneficial for sleep. Removing electronic devices from the bedroom provides a good sleep environment and promotes healthy sleeping habits.
Overall parents everywhere are struggling with children being addicted to technology this paper will help you address these issuses and also find solutions to reduce technology use in children. By setting boundaries with technology that the family will respect as technology is so deeply rooted in everything now. Teaching children healthy habits like teaching boundaries and no screen time before bed are solutions that will help improve technology addiction in children. Unplugging from technology can bring many benefits by promoting family bonding time, improving mental health, and also promotes healthy sleeping habits.
Workcited
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- “How Technology Affects Child Development.” Florida Tech Online, 15 May 2019, www.floridatechonline.com/blog/psychology/how-technology-affects-child-development/.
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- Truitt, Jenifer. “7 Effects of Technology Addiction on Kids (and How to Overcome It).” Ziglar Family, 13 Sept. 2018, www.ziglarfamily.com/7-effects-of-technology-addiction-on-kids-and-how-to-overcome-it/.
- Daily, F. (2019, January 5). Twelve ways to break your children's screen addiction as tech disrupts sleep. Retrieved from https://www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/8123694/screen-addiction-children-parenting-advice/.
- Maric, K. (2017, May 30). Do You Want Your Kids to Spend Less Technology Time? Retrieved from https://www.kidsinthehouse.com/blogs/katicamaric/do-you-want-your-kids-to-spend-less-technology-time.
- Walsh, J. J. (2016). Correction to Lancet Child Adolesc Health 2019; published online Sept 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(19)30273-1. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. doi: 10.1016/s2352-4642(19)30320-7
- American Academy of Pediatrics Announces New Recommendations for Children's Media Use. (2016, October 21). Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/American-Academy-of-Pediatrics-Announces-New-Recommendations-for-Childrens-Media-Use.aspx.
- Rodden, J., Rodden, J., AdrianDozier, & AdrianDozier. (2019, October 18). Mo Devices Mo Problems: ADDitude's Top 10 Parental Control Apps. Retrieved from https://www.additudemag.com/screen-time-parental-control-apps/.
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