Too Much Screen Time Damages The Brains Of Young Children

Technology has pervaded every aspect of our lives, including that of our children. It’s almost like they’re born with a “tech gene,” with even babies knowing how to swipe device screens. However, a recent discovery by scientists should get all parents very worried. They’ve found out that too much screen time damages the brain of young kids.

Aptly named Screen Dependency Disorder, it is related to Internet Addiction Disorder.

A recent study found out that about 30% of infants below six months old are regularly exposed to screen time (on average, 60 minutes daily). By the age of two, almost nine out of 10 children have regular screen time, potentially exposing them to developing this disorder.

Alarmingly, the parents who were surveyed in the study are also hardly aware of this issue. So, what exactly is Screen Dependency Disorder and what can we do about it?

Screen Dependency Disorder

There are many tangible signs of screen dependency disorder  when too much screen time weakens your child’s cognitive and physical development.

Do take note if your child exhibits any of these red flags:

• Being preoccupied with their device and becoming aggressive with its absence.
• Withdrawal symptoms such as crying when you do not let them access their device.
• Not stopping screen activities even after you tell them to.
• Losing interest in playing outside, deteriorating in school performance, and increased inattentiveness.
• Continuing screen time despite negative consequences.
• Maximising every chance they can get to use a device such as lying about how much they use these devices.
• Using devices to escape adverse moods and begging you for more time on the device when you ask him to put it away.

How Too Much Screen Time Damages the Brain of a Developing Child

A new study found that young children who were exposed to too much screen time have: 

• less sleep and less ability to focus. This leads to an unhealthy sleep cycle as kids sleep more during the day and less at night. In fact, for every 15 minutes the child uses a smart device, they lose 60 minutes of sleep.
• longer speech delays with increased screen time.
• various physical problems — weight loss/gain, insomnia, headaches, poor nutrition and eyesight problems.
• various emotional problems, like anxiety, loneliness, guilt, self-isolation, mood swings and agitation. 

Ultimately, it is the long term effects of persistent symptoms that are concerning, as too much screen time damages the brain of a developing child.

Studies have shown that screen dependency disorder shrinks children’s brains, affecting their planning and organization, among others.

There are also health consequences to adults, teens, and tweens too. However, they are more pronounced in children because their brains are still developing. 

How then, can we limit screen time in children (and adults) alike?

Too Much Screen Time Damages the Brain of a Developing Child : What Can We Do About It?

There are some ways to limit screen time as advised by experts. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have now revised their guidelines on children and screen time. Recently, they have declared that it is safe for children to have some screen time, provided that all parents observe the following 12 key points:

Guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatrics

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