TECHNOLOGY AND KIDS: SCREEN TIME MANAGEMENT

TECHNOLOGY AND KIDS: SCREEN TIME MANAGEMENT | Ecency

Are kids getting smarter or are they just responding to their environment?

Well, being a Doctor I have assisted in birthing lots of them into the world and I can tell you, yes they come smarter, for the fact that some of them come with eyes wide open as opposed to some decades ago when they may spent 2 to 3 days before they begin to see clearly.

Well, what has technology got to do with these kids and how has it affected their brain?
A very pertinent question in this light, these kids have simply responded to their environment and it seems that we all do. A child at 6 months old can operate a mobile device his grand parents may not be able to use. Is that something to be afraid of?

The children being born in a technologically advanced world are actually at the risk of what we call "subtle addiction".

According to Newyork Times, "They focus on four risky traits: sensation-seeking, impulsiveness, anxiety sensitivity and hopelessness"

The WHO has warned already about the exposure of kids under a certain age to screening and reduced screen time for others as well as none for the much younger ones.

For infants (younger than 1 year):

No screen time at all
A variety of physical activities several times a day, as often as possible while interacting with a caregiver. Before babies can crawl or walk, they need “tummy time” prone on the floor.
No more than 1 hour a day restrained in a high chair, stroller, or worn on a caregiver’s back
Sleep including naps totaling 14 to 17 hours until 3 months old; 12 to 16 hours from 4 to 11 months old.
For toddlers (1 to 2 years old):

No sedentary screen time for 1-year-olds, an hour or less of screen time for two-year-olds
At least 180 minutes of various physical activities, spread throughout the day
No more than 1 hour a day restrained in a high chair, stroller or baby carrier
Sleep, including naps, totaling 11 to 14 hours, with regular bedtimes and wakeup times
For preschoolers (3 to 4 years old)

An hour or less of sedentary screen time
At least 180 minutes of various physical activities, spread throughout the day, with at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise
No more than 1 hour a day restrained in a high chair, stroller or baby carrier
Sleep including naps totaling 10 to 13 hours, with regular bedtimes and wakeup times

From www.everydayhealth

Are they being followed?

In light of this, when a child begins to get attracted to phones, screens and cartoons with well-calculated attractive colours, they can cause some level of attention build and deficit, and that can become an addiction due to dopamine surge.

The sedentary life can also result to them developing obesity even in childhood and this poses a lot of risk to their adult life.

What we don't know is the outcome of such an addiction, are we gonna be having younger tech gurus, will this addiction help train their brains in certain ways? Is it safe for their future?