We’ve all done it. Switched on the television for a bit of peace and quiet. Handed off the IPads and SmartPhones to the kids just to buy some laundry time. You promise yourself it won’t be for long, it certainly won’t become a habit or crutch, but you have been waiting for Calgon to come and take you away… and you just can’t wait any longer.
Aside from buying you a needed and well deserved break, what does all of the “screen time” do? Does it truly have a long term impact on our kids’ brains? Is their development being messed with? Of course it is!
It seems as though that glorious babysitter we call technology is stunting the growth of our future leaders. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics state infants aged 0-2 years should not have any exposure to technology, 3-5 years be restricted to one hour per day, and 6-18 years restricted to 2 hours per day. Children and youth use 4-5 times the recommended amount of technology, with some potentially serious consequences.
Rapid brain growth: Stimulation to a developing brain caused by overexposure to technologies, has been shown to be associated with executive functioning and attention deficit, cognitive delays, impaired learning, increased impulsivity and decreased ability to self-regulate, e.g. those rotten bratty tantrums we witness every single time we go to Target.
Delayed Development: Technology use restricts movement, which can result in delayed development. Movement enhances attention and learning ability. Believe me, there is little to no movement involved in a game of Flappy Birds.
Epidemic Obesity We can’t just blame McDonalds and their fast food co conspirators. One in three U.S. children are obese. 30% of children with obesity will develop diabetes. Obese individuals are at higher risk for early stroke and heart attack, gravely shortening life expectancy. TV and video game use correlates with increased obesity. Children who are allowed a device in their bedrooms have 30% increased incidence of obesity. WOW that’s something!
Sleep Deprivation: 60% of parents do not supervise their child’s technology usage, and 75% of children are allowed technology in their bedrooms. 75% of children aged 9 and 10 years are sleep deprived to the extent that their grades are detrimentally impacted. Are you sure that your kids are sleeping when they say goodnight? Or is there a smartphone stashed under their pillow calling their name?
That’s not all – there are 6 more unhappy reasons why we will never succeed as perfect parents. And now that I have dashed your dreams of a 15 minute “Me Time” break, I hope that this gives you incentive to send them out doors. Buy those cheap burlap sacks and have them hop around the yard, turn on the hose and make a muddy mess (it all washes out), take them to the library and get them books and watch their little minds form and grow and move and save our future from obese lazy screen destruction. Then, once they are outside, lock the door and watch some t.v.
Happy Non-Screening!
And don’t forget, if you ever have any real estate questions or need any direction, we are always here to help.
The Adler Home Team
201-825-1266
TheAdlerHomeTeam@Verizon.net
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