Are Screens Wrecking Your Child’s Life?
By Movieguide® Contributor
Is screen time wrecking your child’s sleep? A recent study found that sleep disruption caused by screens can create ripple effects throughout your kid’s life.
“Our results indicate that excessive screen time can leave the brains of preschool children in an excited state, leading to poor sleep quality and duration,” said Yan Li, a professor at Shanghai Normal.
His study labeled screens a “form of behavioural dependence,” and the more time kids spend on screens, “the greater the likelihood they will persist in these activities, leading to reduced opportunities for cognitive development and social interactions,” the study says.
StudyFinds notes that young children are consuming way more screen time than what is deemed appropriate.
“Modern preschoolers are increasingly immersed in a world of screens, with research showing that more than half of 2.5-year-olds and over a third of 4-year-olds exceed the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended screen time limits. The COVID-19 pandemic only intensified this trend, doubling children’s daily screen usage for online activities,” the outlet said.
But all this time glued to a screen can wreck a kid’s ability to get good quality sleep, further exacerbating issues.
“Poor sleep may be due to postponed bedtimes caused by screen viewing and the disruption of sleep patterns due to overstimulation and blue-light exposure,” noted lead researcher Dr. Shujin Zhou, a doctor of psychology at Shanghai Normal. “Screen use might also displace time that could have been spent sleeping and increase levels of physiological and psychological arousal, leading to difficulties in falling asleep.”
Zhou added, “The implications of our study are two-fold. First, controlling screen use in preschool-age children can help alleviate behavioral problems and poor sleep quality, and second, sleep interventions and treatments can be effective in mitigating the adverse effects of screen time on behavioral issues.”
READ MORE: IS IT REALLY THAT BAD IF KIDS HAVE SCREEN TIME?
If you’re concerned that excessive screen time is harming your child’s sleep and behavior, there are a few things you can do.
Children’s Health recommends parents model good screen use.
“The first strategy is the toughest,” said Dr. Alice Ann Holland. “Parents need to be a good model for behavior. If your child sees you modeling non-screen activities like reading or sports, they will be more likely to want to do those things, too.”
The group also recommends delaying introducing screens, creating and sticking to clear rules, providing fun alternatives like playing outside or reading books, remembering that screens for kids are a privilege, not a right, and letting your kids get bored sometimes.
READ MORE: SET YOUR CHILD UP FOR SUCCESS WITH THESE SCREEN TIME FACTS
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