Why is it important for parents to reduce the amount of screen time for their children?
Parents usually fight with their kids over the amount of time their kids spend in front of televisions, computers, and smartphones. Kids consider that their parents are basically denying them the simple innocent pleasures. However, parents are basically acting out for the welfare of their child. According to research, limiting time with electronic devices gives an opportunity for families to spend time with each other and involve in face-to-face interaction. It gives time to kids to go outside and play outdoor games or even read a book which develops their critical thinking. Furthermore, reducing screen time has a constructive impact on the child’ s physical and social behavior. In some case, it can even expand their educational performance.
We live in a post-modern world and we have jobs and careers to maintain. In this hard and fast world, we cannot give proper time to our kids as per their needs; therefore, it seems easy to distract our kids with smartphones, cartoons on TV and similar digital stuff to keep them busy. However, we are doing more harm than good. We are destroying the creativity skills of our kids and limiting their brains. When our kids are engaged with excessive screen times, they become addicted to it and reduce their outdoor activities. This habit becomes permanent when they get older when it becomes necessary to go outside and experience the world. The kids who live indoor are shy; they have low communication skills and face issues while dealing with the outside world. Therefore, it’s the duty of each parent to restrict and monitor the screen time of their child.
If parents limit screen time of their kids, it leads to improved sleep, lower weights and decent grades in the study. Kids who used computers, TV and smartphones momentarily and encouraged to discuss with their findings with their parents, were more social, academic and confident. Their sleeping habits were good and they were less hostile and aggressive and more cooperating. Simply, reducing the screen time has made kids more optimistic and confident and less dependent on electronic media. These effects may not appear instantly, but they are more like ripple effects.
Kids get addicted to watching TV, because it’s tempting. The report control of TV gives them the power to browse through hundreds of channels at the expense of merely pressing a button. They will remain distracted during their sleep and when they go to schools, they will keep thinking about watching unlimited cartoons when they get back from school.
It can be concluded that our child may be unhappy about his or her controlled and monitored screen time; however, we are doing this for their benefits in the long run!