Once upon a time, childhood included being told almost daily and especially during the summer, “go outside and play.” Today’s children when told that react with hands raised and a shoulder shrug, and respond, “play what?” The curiosity of the outside used to fuel young imaginations. Children played with sticks, made mud pies and kicked cans when a ball was nowhere to be found. They caught bees and lightening bugs in jars with holes in the top. It was a childhood of wonder and discovery. Unfortunately, the advances of tech have lured youth to a tablet, phone or computer sometimes with disastrous results. Extensive screen time can lead to sleep problems, lower grades in school, reading fewer books, less time with family and friends, not enough outdoor or physical activity, weight problems and mood problems.
A new study from the University of Denmark found that less screen time means less challenging behavior. Parents in the study found that after as little as two weeks of decreasing screen time to three hours weekly, they could see significant improvements in their child’s mental health and behavior, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.
According to the American Academy of Adolescent and Child Psychiatry, children and adolescents spend a lot of time watching screens, including smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, TVs, and computers. On average, children ages 8-12 in the United States spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens, and teens spend up to nine hours daily. While screens can entertain, teach, and keep children occupied, too much use may lead to problems.
“Parents should limit screen time for children to help with their social emotional engagement and development. Social and emotional development happens through interactions with same age peers, same grade peers, going to the playground, going to the pool, and being involved in different extracurricular activities throughout the school year, and enrichment activities in the summertime. This helps children learn how to play together, how to share, how to be a team, and how to properly communicate,” Richard Blackmon, a Maryland high school special education teacher told The Final Call.
“Studies are still being done on what long term use of electronics does to children’s brains, but we do know it can be addictive. Constant viewing prevents children from engaging with people. Constant screen time stifles children’s ability to build on social learning as they get older. Parents have to limit screen time and encourage their children to do other things. They can play board games, color, write in a workbook, do multiplication facts. There are many things parents can do. Reading allows children to use their imagination and go places they’ve never been before,” he said.
Researchers at The University of Southern Denmark found that reducing screen time for children between 4 and 17 showed positive results in just two weeks. The most noticeable benefits associated with reduced screen media use were a decrease in internalizing behavioral issues and enhanced positive social interactions. Their study looked at 181 children from nearly 90 families. While half of families limited their leisure screen time to three hours per week, apart from homework and studying, the other half maintained their normal habits. The study team found significant improvements in the children’s social skills including reductions in behavioral problems and in dealing with emotional issues.
Tablets are a go-to for parents who need something to occupy their children’s time when they aren’t in school. However, parents in light of this new research may consider other activities for their children. The Superlative Club based in several cities around the country including Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, and Northern New Jersey may be a better option.
“We’re the premier after school enrichment program. Our mission is to improve outcomes for our students by means of the arts. We offer enrichment clubs focused on arts and crafts, general sports, martial arts, musical arts, and coding to enhance the student’s mastery in areas that are of interest to them,” Jamil Muhammad, part of the Superlative Club administrative team told The Final Call.
“These experiences help to empower students to perform better in the classroom and to perform better in other social settings,” he said. —Nisa Islam Muhammad, Staff Writer
