Summary: We have put together a list of the reasons why children under the age of 12 should never be allowed to use handheld devices such as smartphones and tablets.
Children growing up in today’s world have a ton of technology in front of them. From hundreds of channels on television to millions of websites to browse online, there is no end in sight for technology. Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics state that children from the age of 0-2 years should not have any exposure to technology.
Children between the ages of 3-5 should only be allowed one hour of exposure to technology per day. Children from the age of 6-18 should be restricted to just two hours per day.
Despite these guidelines, children use anywhere from four to five times the recommended amounts of technology per day. This can lead to a litany of issues for children, including developmental delays, obesity, sleep issues and much more. We will discuss them in this post.
Developmental Delays
When a child sits and uses technology for prolonged periods, he or she can become developmentally delayed because there is a lack of movement when doing so. The more a child moves, the more he or she will enhance their learning ability and their attention.
Sleep Deprivation
There are a lot of people out there who do not supervise the technology uses of their children. To make matters worse, a large portion of children are permitted to take technology with them to their bedroom during naps or at night. This leads to sleep deprivation, which can cause issues with health and issues at school regarding academic performance.
Obesity
The more a child has access to technology, the more likely it is that he or she will become obese. Video games and television shows force children to sit down, inside, and refrain from movement. When a person is obese, he or she is more likely to develop diabetes or other health issues.
Mental Illness
According to a Bristol University study from 2010, overuse of technology has a causal factor in rising rates of many childhood issues such as depression, attention deficit, attachment disorder, anxiety, bipolar disorder, autism, problematic child behavior and psychosis.
Addictions
Technology does not just affect children directly. It also affects them indirectly. As a parent becomes more attached to their smartphone and tablet, parental involvement in their children’s lives could decrease. If this happens, children can turn to mobile devices to keep busy. This can turn into a technology addiction. A study from Dr. Douglas Gentile from 2009 found that one in 11 children between the ages of 8-18 are addicted to technology.
Are you concerned about your child’s use of technology? Share your thoughts in our poll below.
Image credit: techdaily.com