It's over for our kids unless we start doing THIS!
As time marches on, technology has become an irreplaceable part of our lives. Everyone probably owns multiple electronic devices for different purposes, including education. Even right now, I’m writing this blog on my laptop! However, does this mean that it doesn’t matter if we introduce screen time to children early?
Do you know the suitable age to introduce children to electronic devices and to allow them to have their own screen time? According to Health Hub, babies and toddlers that are 18 months and younger should be forbidden from any screen time at all. From age 1.5 to 6 years old, screen time should be less than an hour. And for children aging 7 to 12 years old, parents should regulate their digital devices usage timing and content.
There are many consequences of excessive screen time such as, myopia or short-sightedness. Prolonged device usage is closely linked to progression in myopia, this affects children the most as their eyes are still developing. Actually, the eyes stabilize only around when one reaches 20 years old. Not only does it affect their visual developments, it also affects their behavioral developments. Your child having lesser tantrums, longer-attention spans and ability to carry a conversation is your incentive when there is little to no screentime!
Singapore is called “myopia capital” as the majority of the population is myopic. For children with myopic parents, the likelihood of them having myopia is greater, however, it is not necessarily inheritable. Therefore, the most important thing to do is still to monitor their near work and screen time and allow them to get a good balance between it and visual breaks or outdoor time.
So what should we do to prevent children from having excessive screen time? Firstly, be a role model to them by not using your phone during family time such as outings and meal times, unless it's for important matters. Secondly, allow children to develop their interests and hobbies which doesn’t involve the usage of mobile devices. This way, they’d have things they enjoy doing outside of the digital world. Lastly, educate children about the consequences of excessive screen time as young as possible. This usually works once they are able to start handling conversations with you as a parent. It could be as easy as whining or "complaining" about your painful eyes after using your own phone. There are also more methods parents can adapt as long as it works for their children!
While suitable digital usage can elevate our education and work quality, excessive usage in children is connected to lower cognitive ability and academic performances in their later years.
Thus, the role of parents is to provide guidance and support to children so they won’t succumb to the temptations of using electronic devices.
