What Increased Screen Time Means For Your Child’s Health
Getting children outdoors and away from their screens is becoming increasingly difficult. Not only are children playing more online and digital games because of the popularity of gaming platforms, but with homeschooling a reality for many, some are spending many more hours in front of a laptop or computer.
This has meant that some children are experiencing health or physical problems that they may not have had previously. Here are a few main recurring issues, with some handy tips and possible solutions and some advice on how to deal with them. Keep in mind that these must be ongoing, and you must be aware of how long your children are online and what content is being viewed.
Back and posture problems
Whether it is time sitting over a desk working on a laptop or laid-back gaming, it could be incredibly damaging to the posture of young people. Children are still determining, to a large extent, how they walk and stand. The constant hunching over a keyboard and looking up at screens (and doing so for long periods of time) can affect children’s long-term posture.
The solution: Look for a good chair with back support and movement. It should be the right size for the child. There are many options available so look for one that not only provides lumbar support but is perhaps also on wheels so that turning around and reaching for something is possible.
Eye health
The damage caused to eyes from long-term screen time is well-researched. The problem is not only too much screen time but also sitting too close to the screen and light glare. These can all have negative impacts on young eyes. Forcing the eyes to focus on the intense light that most screens exude can cause eye fatigue and strain eye muscles.
The solution: Book an eye exam sooner rather than later – professional optometrists River Heights Eye Care are a good example of a service in Ontario with a clear COVID-19 safety protocol in place. Once you know the state of your child’s vision and eyes, make sure that screens and devices are at the right distance when being used by your child. Having them too close or too far away can cause strain and eye fatigue. Making sure the screen is also at the right height is important, as looking up at screens can be problematic. Use this simple rule of thumb 1-2-10: mobile phones one foot away, laptops or computer screens two feet away, and television screens 10 feet away. Allowing for time away from screens will also give young eyes time to rest and recoup.
Exercise
With schools closed for so long and social interaction curtailed, a large number of young people have seen a marked reduction in the amount of exercise they are doing. Coupled with the additional screen time, young bodies have missed out on exercise and activity. We may not always consider the long-term effects of lack of exercise on children, but it could have serious consequences. These can include weight gain, high blood pressure, and bone problems.
The solution: Plan a program of exercise for your child, make it fun, and try to include the entire family from time to time. This could be as simple as a long walk or anything that gets them away from the screen and gets their heart rate up.
These are common issues related to your child’s health, and by taking the three simple steps above, you can improve your child’s health and limit the damage caused by the current need for increased screen time.
