6. Aggressive Tendencies
As the saying goes: monkey see, monkey do. When a young child experiences violence in his household or frequently sees it on a screen, he begins to think that this behaviour is normal.
This can lead to them unconsciously mimicking this type of violent behavior and cause problems at home and in the classroom.
“Those who watch a lot of simulated violence, common in many popular video games, can become immune to it, more inclined to act violently themselves and less likely to behave empathetically,” explained Dimitri A. Christakis of the Seattle Children’s Research Institute (11).
7. Digital Disorder
ADHD is the most common childhood behavioral condition. It has increased in numbers by 50% in the last 10 years alone (12).
Currently, about 1 in 10 high school-age boys are prescribed ADHD medication (13). This is said to coincide with the rise in popularity of mobile devices.
While children do learn to focus on their screens, this focus is not necessarily applied to school work or social interaction; key factors in proper intellectual development.
Dr. Christopher Lucas, associate professor of child psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine explains:
“It’s not sustained attention in the absence of rewards. It’s sustained attention with frequent intermittent rewards.” (14)
8. Real-life Addictions
Some parents rely on technology to keep their kids quiet and controlled. In doing so, they often forgo actually interacting with their child. This can lead to children developing an emotional attachment to technology instead of one with their family (15).
In some children, this can lead them to forgo eating, sleeping or even using the washroom when they’re playing with apps or video games (15).
To respond to growing complaints of digital addiction, Dr Richard Graham, who runs a technology addiction program in the UK has had to open his door to children.
His youngest patient is only 4 years old (16). He says that these children experience the same withdrawal symptoms as alcoholics or heroin addicts when their favorite devices are taken away.
9. Radiation Risks
The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified mobile phone use and other radio frequency electromagnetic fields as a possible carcinogen (group 2B) (17).
Children who talk often on the phone or keep their device in their pocket may be exposing their bodies to dangerously high levels of radiation.
One study even found that the brain tissue of children absorbed about two times more microwave radiation (MWR) than that of adults, while other studies have reported that the bone marrow of children absorbs 10 times more MWR than that of adults (18).
10. Eye Strain
Constant exposure to technology can really take a toll on your eyes.
As reported by the Vision Concil, 65% experience symptoms of digital eye strain, such as dry, irritated, eyes, blurred vision, eye fatigue, neck and back pain and headaches (19).
In young children, this kind of strain can lead to permanent vision problems, including myopia, or nearsightedness.
Bottom Line
Many health organization suggest that children under the age of 12 should not own handheld devices or have televisions and electronic gaming equipment in their bedroom.
Others warn that teenagers shouldn’t be allowed to spend more than 2 hours per day in front of a screen at home.
While these suggestions may seem impossible to some parents, it may very well be the best course of action for your child’s health.
sources :
[1]https://www.urbanchildinstitute.org/why-0-3/baby-and-brain
[2]https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/oct/09/ban-under-threes-watching-television
[3]https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/pediatrics/early/2011/10/12/peds.2011-1753.full.pdf
[4]https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/05/23/cdc-1-in-6/13146/
[5]https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm
[6]https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesity.html
[7]https://www.medicaldaily.com/obesity-america-comes-inactivity-not-too-many-calories-how-technology-has-led-widening-waistlines
[8] https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-topics/children-and-sleep/page/0/2
[9]https://www.sd23.bc.ca/ProgramsServices/earlylearning/parentinformation/Documents/Impact%20of%20Technology%20on%20Young%20Children’s%20Development.pdf
[10]https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201001/the-decline-play-and-rise-in-childrens-mental-disorders
[11]https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/screen-addiction-is-taking-a-toll-on-children/?_r=0
[12]https://techland.time.com/2013/07/08/a-nation-of-kids-with-gadgets-and-adhd/
[13]https://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/health/more-diagnoses-of-hyperactivity-causing-concern.html?_r=1
[14]https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/health/views/10klass.html
[15]https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/06/screen-addiction-is-taking-a-toll-on-children/?_r=0
[16]https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/10008707/Toddlers-becoming-so-addicted-to-iPads-they-require-therapy.html
[17]https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/press-releases/2011/IARCcellphoneMay2011
[18] https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20140819/children-cell-phones
[19]https://www.thevisioncouncil.org/content/digital-eye-strain/kids