Our everyday life is so much monitored and controlled by technology that young children too are getting overexposed to technology at our homes. Technology penetration is so much that it is hard to avoid the negative effects of screen time on children. At a much younger age, especially between the ages of one to six, content on smartphones, tablets, television, video games, computers, or wearable technology is being played during mealtimes at many houses for children. Technology has become a means of ‘social learning’ for this new generation. However, many scientific reports have proven that this early screen exposure affects children’s physical and social health. Still, parents don’t pay attention to this and actively play content for their children for many hours every day.
The impact of screen time on children in early childhood can have damaging health outcomes. The first five years are said to be crucial years of a child’s brain development. And more time in front of a screen can also influence the brain’s growth. This could result in poor social skills due to lack of interaction, language development, learning, reading, poor control of emotions, attention deficit, sleep problems, obesity, myopia, poor posture, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, chronic cardiovascular problems in the long term, etc. This all goes unnoticed in many houses and this problem should be fixed to reduce the harm being caused to children's skill development.
Parents should make functional changes in their homes to prevent young children’s exposure to screens. Moreover, it is not the sole responsibility of parents to do this but also of school management and staff. Because this ‘screen trend’ has entered kindergarten/preschools where children of two to six years are exposed to more than one hour of screen time every day. All parents don’t realize the real impact of screen time because their calculation of screen time is just being done at home without understanding their child’s exposure at kindergarten/preschool. With this excessive total daytime exposure, addictive behavior can be developed at a young age.
Let’s make sure that parents as decision makers take steps to regulate their child’s screen time and keep them away from technology. It is also important that steps are taken to regulate present-day traditional settings in kindergartens/preschools. This will at least have a moderately positive effect on children using gadgets to ‘watch’ and ‘play’. Rules will be there at home and in kindergarten/preschools, but the need is to develop things that help children interact and learn also while staying away from the world of technology, games, etc. So, what can parents do? It's important to offer children alternatives because your child will complain about being bored or unhappy without access to technology.
Some suggestions are that firstly, you must develop confidence within your family that entertaining your children doesn’t have to be done through screens only. Secondly, work on the type of content your child is being exposed and for that, you can limit their exposure by playing only interactive stories, educational games, and social games. Thirdly, encourage your child to watch programs in your presence about nature, science, arts, music, or history to build their knowledge. Fourthly, plan weekly time for hobbies, outdoor play, and activities with your children. Although it might be challenging at first, consistent efforts can greatly enhance a child's health and wellbeing, ultimately leading to a better quality of life.