Given children's high interest and often obsession with television and other electronics such as video games it can be very challenging for parents to limit both children's time on across these devices, but also what type of mature and violent content they are exposed to. While this can be challenging due to the wide range of devices and often the pressure from children it is critical for children's well-being that there are clear limits set on the amount of time they have for time interacting with electronics, but also they types of messages that they are exposed to when they actually are plugged in.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has come out to say that television should not be viewed by children under two at any time. There is also a lot of information regarding both the amount of exposure and potential harm that exposure to electronics can bring to children.
Children and teenagers have been found to spend an average of four hours per day watching television, according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. This time does not include time spent on the computer, being on the internet, smartphones, or playing video games. Some negative effects that electronics can have on children and teens include:
1) Increased obesity risk--too much screen time can promote a sedentary lifestyle, which is one of the major contributing factors in obesity. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry estimated that 33% of teens in 2011 were obese an recommended that by replacing 30 minutes of screen time per day with physical activity would dramatically decrease children's health risks. [1] Additionally, children who view television are found to be more vulnerable targets of advertisements for food products of poor nutritional value than children who don't watch television. [2]
2) Increased aggression--teens with exposure to violent television and video games may also experience increased aggression by being more likely to fight with peers, argue with teachers, and have more generally aggressive behaviors according to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation. [1] Research studies have shown that children exposed to violent images are initially frightened and traumatized. With repeated exposure, they can become desensitized to the real effects of violence. Children exposed in this way may act aggressively, with no sense of consequences. [2]
3) Sleep problems--Having electronics in your teenager's bedroom can negative affect his or her normal sleep cycle. This is true even when children are not getting up to answer their phones since updates might be disturbing their sleep if their devices aren't completely powered down. [1]
4) Potential mental health problems--spending too much time playing video games can increase depression in teens who have a predisposition to social or mental health problems, notes Douglas A. Gentile, a psychology professor at Iowa State University. He cites how there is a group of teens who become addicted to video games and become isolated and depressed. Gentile recommends monitoring and limiting game time as appropriate. [1]
5) Television and electronic media displace social interaction--the American Academy of Pediatrics also found that time spent watching television or playing a computer game is "time not spent engaged in a creative activity, or interacting with other people. Television viewing is an especially passive experience, offering no opportunity to interact or respond. When the amount of time spent in front of the television or sitting at a game console is prolonged, it can displace social activities such as play, or even conversation. Spending too much time with electronic media can be an isolating experience, with a negative impact on the development of social skills." [2]
6) Movies and television portray an unrealistic view of the world--The American Academy of Pediatrics also found that movies and television programs glamorize smoking and drinking and send dangerous messages to children. [2] On a similar note, Dr. Martha Klassen and I recently heard Geena Davis speak about her institute's research regarding gender in the media. Geena Davis' Institute's data regarding how girls and women are being portrayed in programming designed for children under 6 is considered the highest in the field and is now informing policy at places from the UN to Disney since her organization's work revealed that only 17% of characters on screen for children are female, that female characters are typically in supporting roles and have lower level careers compared to males presented, and it is not uncommon for females to be presented in suggestive clothing. More can be found about Davis' organization and their findings and efforts to change what children are exposed to at www.seejane.org.
What you can do to limit your child's exposure:
1) Set clear time limits on the amount of screen time that your child receives during the week. For many of my families that I work with screen time isn't a right, but a privilege that is earned in small doses.
2) If your child has difficulty abiding by the time limits or rules of screen time, you might remove screen time all together or put parameters in place to help monitor its use such as:
-lock up devices or keep out of children's bedrooms for better monitoring
-have passwords on all devices
-know potential of all devices (for example: I have had young children in my practice before accessing inappropriate content on the internet through their Wii since the parent didn't set parental controls not realizing the device with the potential to access the internet)
-use apps that can shut down electronics when time is up (some phone carriers provide these options as well)
3) Have hard limits about what types of programming your child is allowed to be exposed to. The facts are that there are many negative elements in television, films, and video games and especially given the large amount of time that children these days spend on these devices it can have a large negative impact on children. You need to be your child's biggest advocate despite how they will pressure you or even how other adults might tell you that these things are not damaging. Games, shows, and movies have ratings for a reason. One website I find helpful for making decisions about appropriate content for different age children is www.commonsensemedia.org since this will review a movie with potential areas of concern prior to going to a film or watching a show and being surprised. This site also provides potential talking points for good discussions with children. It can be tough sometimes to set hard limits, but your children need you to be the bad guy for them.
4) Sometimes you might choose to allow your child to watch a show or play a game that has some questionable content as a way to educate your child about an issue. This can be incredibly helpful. We want our children questioning the world around them. For example: Geena Davis gave an example during her talk about how you could talk to children about a scantily clad girl going to rescue someone where you could ask questions like "Do you think someone would really dress like that to go help somebody?" "What do you think you would wear instead?" Images for teens with alcohol and smoking for teens could lead to a conversation with teens in this area about your family values about drug use and what you expect for them.
5) Be confident knowing that you are not alone and that there are many other parents out there who are also out there who are also making the same choices. The more you can partner together the better.
[1] Roberts, Holly. The negative effects electronics have on teens. September 6, 2011 www.livestrong.com |
