How much time can a child spend in front of the monitor

Quarantine and kindergarten sight words forces us to take a fresh look at the problem of overuse of electronic gadgets

The amount of time our children spend in front of computers and smartphones is worrying. They can endlessly watch videos on Youtube, play computer games or chat on social networks.

Parents can influence how much time their children spend in front of monitors. This is not an easy task, but it becomes more and more important over time. Children don’t see it as a problem that they spend a lot of time in front of monitors. But you can help your child understand this and teach him how to manage the time spent in front of the monitor.

First of all, you need to accept the fact that it is your responsibility to control the time that the child spends in front of the monitor. How can this control be exercised? Is this possible in an environment where, due to the pandemic, children learn remotely and have to spend a certain amount of time at computers and comma before so?

The COVID-19 pandemic has made electronic gadgets an even greater part of our daily lives. And this influence will only increase in the future. Parents must not only accept this new reality, but also learn to control it.

And this reality is not as bad as it might seem at first glance. Families spend more time together and get creative to come up with fun activities. Couples strengthen their relationships, and relatives who live in different cities communicate more by phone and video. People learn to cook new dishes, read more and watch movies. In other words, they are developing.

Children, parents and electronic gadgets: new norms

How long can a child spend behind a screen? Let’s face it: our lives have changed. And electronic devices have become an important part of our lives. At the computer we work, study and spend our free time. Whatever the age of the child, parents always choose activities that will be useful to the child and themselves. They are often tempted to play Youtube videos on their phone on their phone so they can go about their business.

If you want your child to develop harmoniously, you need to put in more effort and devote more time to him. Youtube won’t do the job for you. You probably don’t want the Internet to affect your child’s development, whether he’s a preschooler or a teenager.

New conditions dictate new norms to us. If we make enough effort and don’t stop halfway, we can shape new values ​​and bond the family even more than before the pandemic. We cannot prevent children from sitting at computers, but we must balance this with other activities: exercise, socializing with the family, etc.

Why is a lot of screen time harmful?

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends not giving access to electronic devices to children under two years of age. For kids ages two to four, it is recommended to limit screen time to one hour. Pediatricians recommend that parents develop a plan that will limit their screen time and teach them healthier activities.

Excessive use of computers and smartphones can lead to the following negative consequences:

dependence on a computer or mobile phone;
poor development of social skills;
lack of physical activity;
aggressive behavior;
improper nutrition;
lack of live communication;
limited vocabulary;
problems with school performance;
irresponsible attitude to household chores;
rivalry between brothers and sisters;
the negative effect of screen light on vision.
If you close your eyes to the problem, the consequences will surely come

Electronic gadgets have become an integral part of our life. You can no longer completely exclude them from the child’s life. But you can minimize the negative consequences. First of all, you should find out what problems parents face when they control their child’s time in front of the monitor.

Children are more susceptible to the influence of electronic devices than adults. And this influence can manifest itself in different aspects of life. Parents have to put in a lot of effort to limit the amount of time their child spends in front of the monitor. However, there are steps you can take to minimize the negative effects.

Statistics show that a child spends an average of about eight hours a day on electronic devices. This time increases with age, so it is important to set limits in advance.

Don’t let gadgets replace physical activity

Doctors say that the excessive time children spend on screens increases the likelihood of being overweight and even obese. Research in recent years confirms that children do not spend enough time outdoors. As a result, children do not exercise enough physical activity. In addition, children are less exposed to nature, which could improve their mood and reduce stress.

Whenever possible, parents should walk with their children in parks or playgrounds and encourage their children to participate in extracurricular school activities. If, due to quarantine, this is not possible, go for walks with your child near the house.

Influence of screens on a child’s vision

We are concerned about how our children are attached to electronic devices. But first of all, it’s worth worrying about how gadgets affect a child’s vision.

With the help of gadgets, children play games, correspond with each other, watch videos, etc. They are so passionate about these activities that nothing can distract them from the screens. Children do not monitor their posture, eye-to-screen distance and brightness. All of this can be bad for your health.

Here are a few guidelines to help parents control the time their children spend behind screens:

limit the time your child spends behind the screen. During a pandemic, children already spend more time behind screens. Just make sure that the child is spending this time in a useful way – for development and learning;
encourage your child to play outdoors. Electronic devices teach a child to live in a sedentary lifestyle that can harm him. Walk with your child to keep him physically active;
gadgets should not replace your activities with your child. If you are giving your child a smartphone or tablet, this may free up some time for you. But there are other ways: educational toys, construction sets, coloring books, etc .;
provide your child with adequate sleep. Depending on age, babies need about 10 hours of sleep a day;
take breaks. Taking breaks every 20 minutes while working at a computer or tablet screen will reduce eye strain;
keep an eye on the distance to the screen. Eyes must be at least 50 cm away from the screen;
pay attention to the lighting. When kids are addicted to gadgets, they don’t follow the lighting. It is not recommended to use gadgets in a dark room or in bright sunlight.
Can gadgets benefit a child?

In the new reality, parents must look at electronic devices from a different perspective. Gadgets can be useful. There is a lot of useful content on the Internet to help your child develop and learn. And under quarantine conditions, gadgets help the child communicate with peers.

There are many learning apps and courses on the Internet. With their help, the child can learn music, foreign languages, programming, etc. There are many useful popular science films, podcasts and videos, online libraries, etc. All this can benefit the child in development.