We are all guilty of spending far too much time staring at our mobile phones like those sold at Vodafone Store Ireland based King Communications. Or TV screens. Whether at work, watching TV or playing games on a games console or mobile phone. Today, as never before, our children have access to laptops at home and school, most have their own tablets and phones and even have games consoles in their bedrooms. A possible reason for this is that parents are so busy with work that they don’t have time to warn their children about the dangers of excessive screen time. If a child doesn’t have a grown up giving them these boundaries there could be long term health implications. If you are a busy parent, you may be interested in hiring a carer like an Au pair to keep your children healthy and safe. If you are looking at London. Is too much technology detrimental to our health? Here are some things to consider when it comes to screen time for children:
Becoming Overweight
Most of the screen time involves being still, whether sitting down or lying on a bed or sofa. Our children are at risk of not burning off enough calories from the food they eat, which has led to a rise in childhood obesity. Children have the natural urge to run around, play, climb things and generally be full of beans but if they are distracted by too much screen time then they run the risk of becoming physically unfit. Obesity can lead to many associated health problems, including joint pain, diabetes, and heart disease. It’s time we encouraged more outside play again.
Sleep Deprivation
Children need more sleep than adults as they are still going through important developments mentally and physically. Screen time is eating into that window of peaceful slumber meaning our children are getting nowhere near the 10-12 hours they need. Children with electronic devices in their bedrooms are staying up late playing games and texting and will continue to be affected by the blue light emitted from the device even after they’ve turned it off. Lack of sleep makes children grumpy, do less well academically and run the risk of a lowered immune system.
Decreased Social Skills
Spending too much time on electronic devices is teaching our children to excel at knowing their way around a keyboard but not how to talk to people on a 1-1 basis. Social skills are an essential part of the skills we need as we grow up to become a well-rounded and successful adult. Children who spend too much time staring at screens lack the ability to communicate effectively, which will have a negative effect on their future development.
Physical Problems
Several new medical problems have appeared in recent years, including such afflictions as phone neck and text thumb. Increasingly, we are asking our bodies to do repetitive actions that they weren’t designed for, and we are holding our necks, thumbs, and wrists at odd angles for too long. This could be storing up trouble and pain in future years for the child who spends too much time on electronic devices. These problems could include back or neck pain, arthritis, migraines, and repetitive strain injuries.
Control
Can you always be sure that your child isn’t viewing inappropriate material? TV and video games often contain content that features risky behaviors, things like drinking alcohol, sexual relations, violence, and drug use. Many young people might be accessing material that is meant for adult eyes only. The only way you can be sure they stay safe is to monitor their usage and don’t allow electronic devices in bedrooms.
