Introduction
People use electronic devices or gadgets on daily basis particularly which have screens such as TV, Smart phones, Tablets and Laptops.We use them as if they are an important part of our lives. In 1990's when there were TVs only specifically 'black n white' ( in Pakistan),we watched our favorite programs like dramas, cartoons and news bulletin etc for a specific period of time. But now in this modern era when we have smart mobiles and computers, the screen time has become unlimited per day.
A balanced screen time can be a part of healthy life style. Unbalanced or Excessive screen time may intervene with other activities like home work, sleeping hours, playing sports and spending time with family.
Screen time for Teens may include college projects watching seasons ( Dirilis Ertugral, Money heist or Game of thrones etc), movies or interacting with friends through social media. Even kids ( 6-10 yrs) these days have Facebook account. Can you imagine? It may also include inappropriate content.
Most parents want to know that how much time their children should spend in front of screens which is within a safe range not disturbing other activities.
A balanced screen time can be a part of healthy life style. Unbalanced or Excessive screen time may intervene with other activities like home work, sleeping hours, playing sports and spending time with family.
Screen time for Teens may include college projects watching seasons ( Dirilis Ertugral, Money heist or Game of thrones etc), movies or interacting with friends through social media. Even kids ( 6-10 yrs) these days have Facebook account. Can you imagine? It may also include inappropriate content.
Most parents want to know that how much time their children should spend in front of screens which is within a safe range not disturbing other activities.
Reality Check
- Two groups suggested the screen time limit
1) American academy of pediatrics (AAP). Doctors who specialize in the health of kids and teens.
2) National heart, lung and blood institute
The kids who substitute the athletic sports and physical activities were the main concern of the aforementioned groups.
- Based on interviews with 743 teens (13-17 yrs) in the U.S. conducted in march and April 2018.
There are many more researches but from reference point of view i think this is enough.
Drawbacks of too much screen time
Technology overuse may be damaging or toxic not for teens but for all of us.
- According to several studies, teens who likely to spend more time in front of screens are more depressed, less well-being and likely to gain more weight.
- As a consequence of more usage, the person become more lonely.
Screen ∝ anti socializing (loneliness)
while the person thinks he/she fantastically connected socially, kind of illusion.
- Through social media (fb,insta) teens who are in the process of becoming a mature person begin to compare themselves with other. On every social platform most people try to show themselves as a rich, beautiful,happy and having a character but actually they don't, kind of superior complexity.This behavior on social sites drags them to inferiority (what is this kind of interaction when you are not meeting in reality?) It also leads towards materialism, more desire to become wealthy.
Suggestions to reduce screen time
- Parents have to make sure that teens have extra curricular activities for instance playing sports football,cricket whatever they like which results in healthy mind and body along with spending time with friends.
- Before meal close all the screens and keep attention on eating food. Now a days situation is children takes food and sit down in front of TV( I did many times in my life). Also remove TV from your teen bedroom.
- Parents should keep an eye on teens regarding multitasking.If they are doing so e.g texting during home work or scrolling through social media watching TV, discourage them. Discuss with them that how multi tasking can interfere with productivity.
- Parents should celebrate a day named as 'screen free day' means no smart phones, tablets,TVs and laptops being used on that particular day.I would recommend all the world to adopt this just like women day or father day.
- Family should try to involve their teens in playing games at home such as carom board,ludo,badminton and they should also try to play with them.
- Set rules according to which teens have to involve with screens and physical activities. But before that parents have to work together and have to apply these rules on themselves first because there is a lot of difference between 'saying and doing'.
Equilibrium is much important in everyone's life.We can not eliminate these things because we have to 'mold ourselves with time , not time with ourselves'. But what we can is try to limit it, without adult guidance most teenagers would spend all of their time in front of screen. Whether your child says 'everyone is doing it' he may be correct but that doesn't mean there are no consequences.
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