Cartoon from Shuttershock
Television programs are
your kids’ best buddies especially now in COVID-19 pandemic crisis. When you work
from home, it keeps them busy watching (not interacting with) the characters
they see on cartoons, transporting their minds to another dimension.
In this new setup, online
or virtual learning will be our best way to cope. Laptop and television are both screens, right? So after school, is it healthy to have more screen
time for kids?
Like with drug toxicity,
too much of a good thing is a poison. It seems TV programs have good and bad
sides. We’ll discuss them one by one.
Sleeping Less from TV Shows, the New Normal?
An example of the mental
world I was talking about is when kids see and hear many ads endorsing
consumption of unhealthy foods. These ads encourage this behavior, and this
might result in greediness. Like what I’ve said
before, unhealthy habits lead to unhealthier habits.
Image
by David
Wooding
A recent study
proved that limiting the hours of television advertising for foods and
beverages high in saturated fat, sugar and salt could make a significant
contribution to lessen the number of obesity cases in children.
Studies also suggest disrupted sleep
caused by exceeding the screen time limit for kids is also in play here. When they
don’t get enough Zzz’s, their capability to produce fat burning hormones is
also impaired, resulting in fat accumulation.
Experiments proved reducing exposure
to TV shows results in lower body mass index (BMI). To maintain it, you must
encourage them to do quick workouts
during commercial breaks.
Also, the urge to snack is
high too. It turns out being a couch potato reduces sensitivity to feeling satiety.
Apparently, watching TV is a far more important causal evidence for obesity of
child than excesses in calorie counting.
Television
is Linked with Sedentary Lifestyle
Caricature by Bob Englehart / Hartford
Courant
Television programs rob your kids the time for exercise and activity.
Some can even feed the mind nasty things like whether it’s alright to choose
fries and diet soda from
the boring veggies.
This also creates the temptation to let time pass and so, diminishes in
them the value of time. Their morals and perspective are affected also.
Pandemic’s Impact on Child Psychology
In dealing with isolation due to COVID-19 pandemic, anxiety slowly
creeps in children the same way in adults. Without school, children may no
longer have the sense of structure and stimulation that is provided by that
environment, and less opportunity for making friends that might be essential
for their development.
Image from Getty
Images
Shower them love and attention, which they need to cast their fears
away. Also, explain to them what is happening in a way their innocent minds
can understand. Parents should be resilient in dealing with stress so that
they can be role models for their children.
Are TV shows new playmates?
No. When we watch TV, our brains shift from thinking
critically to being most receptive to ideas. No wonder TV ads and propaganda
linger in our minds. In other words, we are, mentally, in another world.
A kid needs guidance since he doesn’t have enough
experiences to support or create a counter-argument, hence everything is a
fresh input. Images are engraved directly into the brain without active participation.
“A child… learning how to talk isn’t going to benefit
from watching TV unless somebody is… with them and interacting. ‘Sesame Street’
says, ‘Let’s count,’ and the person watching with the child counts with the
child and has the interaction, then it becomes an interactive activity.” said
Miriam E. Bar-on, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Nevada, Las
Vegas.
Screen Time for Kids, Which
is Good? And Bad?
Image from Getty
Images / iStockphoto
Heavy media use is associated with delays in
language, increased rates
of obesity,
and sleep problems. BUT which kinds contribute to
these the most?
Apparently, experts agree that the ‘bad’ screen time
isn’t that which teaches them socializing, positive thinking, and
problem-solving skills. That could be video-chatting with their techie grandma,
or watching television programs that engage active thinking skills.
Therefore, it is your role as a parent to schedule screen
time for different purposes, such as learning, social connections, and positive
entertainment, while also preparing activities such as baking, walking in the
park, and playing with dogs.
London Bridge is Falling Down
The most effective way to do this is to make them the thinker. The
action must come from them.
And it is
crucial that you build rapport. You must instill into them why should they
stop.
“We’ll
play Frisbee later this afternoon to have strong bones,” is much more friendly
to kids than commanding them “Turn off that tablet.”
It’s like the real world surprising them
in a snap. And this will create
confusion, resulting in hormonal shock, causing him to cry and scream. Blocking his view then turning the TV off is a perfect recipe for tantrums.
You’ll need a
bridge to lead the child back to reality. Vector art of Graphics
RF
Here are tantrum-free screen time
recommendations from Isabelle Filliozat, a clinical psychologist specializing in positive
parenting:
- Sit
with him for 30 seconds, a minute, or longer, and simply watch whatever
she is watching/doing.
- Ask
an innocent question about what’s happening on screen.
This will create a bridge for your child to travel from the imaginary world to the real world. This is the perfect time for bonding.
How
Much Screen Time is Too Much
The American
Academy of Pediatrics issued these daily screen time recommendations:
· Children younger than 24 months: only
video chats are allowed
· Ages 2-5: one hour with adult
who can answer questions and keep them engaged
· Ages 5-18: four hours, heavily
linked with greater chance of childhood obesity.
· Content also matters. The
more violent or risky behaviors (e.g., smoking or drinking alcohol) a child is
exposed to, the more likely they are to engage in them as they grow older.
But every household is
different. So use this only as a guide and be flexible enough to find the habit
that works for you.
Clever Ways to Limit Screen Time
Image by Nejron Photo via Shuttershock
Keeping
oneself physically and mentally active is key in conquering the lockdown
and social distancing anxieties. Here are some additional screen time
recommendations from David Bickham, lead researcher at Center on Media and
Child Health (CMCH)
at Boston Children’s Hospital:
- Plan
activities that incorporate different types of play, including board
games, balls, blocks, and role play.
- Practice
games using letters or numbers to help your child build important skills
(e.g., crosswords, Sudoku).
- Offer
to play with your child and follow their lead.
- Give
your child some toy and game options to choose from.
- Encourage
your child to be creative. They might turn meal time or bath time into a
game. Or appreciate music and art.
- Provide
simple household items like cardboard boxes, tissue paper, and egg crates
and let your child design their own toys or games.
Spending time with your
kids is a rewarding task. Keep in mind that childhood is a critical stage
for their character and personality development. What they think of the world now will
surely have long-term effects in the future.
Don’t let TV shows
discourage new avenues for their learning. Having grey hairs in distracting
your child from television programs? Share your story in the comments below!
This is so true and insightful.
ReplyDeleteInformative and true.
ReplyDeleteYou certainly aren't wrong, especially when it comes to us Americans. Childhood obesity and too much screen time have been growing, interlinked issues since I was a kid. However, I think parents are now presented with a difficult task. Many of them are overwhelmed with their kids being out of school, them being out of work, and trying to figure out how to become a home school teacher overnight. I think the parents are just needing a break at this point.
ReplyDeleteWhat I see a lot of my friends doing with their kids right now is getting creative with their screen time. An example: they get an hour of tv after spending an hour dancing along to JoJo Siwa or playing Dance Dance Revolution. Most kids are happy to dance along to their favorite music, especially when a game is made out of it. It's at least one way to keep them active while keeping them at home and safe, while also ensuring they aren't just sitting on the couch watching Sponge Bob all day.
I agree with your you here. Perhaps there are tasks which kids can do independently, like painting or solving puzzles? Not only will they enjoy but also they will feel victorious in accomplishing such great achievement at a young age.
DeleteVideo Games on gadgets are also not good. Thanks
ReplyDelete