Screen-based apps and games are popular among children of all ages and help keep kids engaged and occupied. But it’s important to also incorporate plenty of non-screen activities into a child’s day; by doing so, you are helping improve their learning skills. Below, learn about the link between non-screen activities and learning, as well as some fun tech-free ideas to include in your childcare routine.
The Positive Effects of Screen Time
Starting with the good, there’s no question that access to digital media has positives for students of all ages. Technology opens up worlds of opportunity to learn and research. Here are just a few of its many benefits:
- Technology and apps aid in learning. There’s an app for everything, whether your child is learning to read or practicing algebra concepts. Technology stimulates learning in new and highly effective ways. It can make challenging topics more digestible and fun to learn. And smartphones can enhance learning with their many tools and functions.
- The internet makes it easy to access new information. A quick Google search can help your child discover just about anything. They can acquire information, learn how to solve a math problem, read both sides of an argument, and get answers to questions.
- Social media can bring people together. Children often use social media to communicate and connect with others. They can keep in touch with friends when physically apart and rely on social media to connect with classmates about school and homework.
The Negative Effects of Screen Time
While there are definitely advantages of technology, screen time impacts children’s brains and behavior. Here are some of the negative effects of screen time on children and their learning:
- Decreased focus – Frequent use of digital devices can make it increasingly more difficult for children to maintain focus on things like homework. For students who already struggle with focus (due to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), the always-on, always-available nature of digital activities can exacerbate these attention issues.
- Distraction during class – Many teachers today make it a policy that students’ phones must be stowed in their backpacks during class—and for good reason. Devices can be highly distracting, with social media notifications and text messages popping up when your child is supposed to be paying attention.
- Disrupted sleep – Blue light-emitting screens can suppress the secretion of melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain in response to darkness that helps people sleep. The nighttime routine should not include smartphone use or watching television, as this can cause your child to stay awake longer. That sleep disruption can lead to tiredness (and inattention) during the daytime while at school.
- Loss of interest in other things – Like many enjoyable activities, use of digital devices can be all-consuming—and difficult for some children to stop doing. For many, screen use is reported to create a release of dopamine, a chemical that makes people happy. That means children want to continue watching that video or playing that game, often choosing screen time over other activities they like.
- Struggles with prioritization – Too much screen time can make it difficult for children to control themselves when they need to. Even when they know they should be doing something else (e.g., homework), your child might find it hard to put the smartphone down and refocus. Of course, this can lead to other problems too, like deceptive behavior about screen use and not enough sleep.
Limiting Screen Time for Children
It’s impossible to completely eliminate screen time from your child’s life, and computers, televisions and smartphones do have many valuable benefits. Like most things in life, it’s best to encourage moderation. A few tips:
- Set limits. Set rules about screen time use, such as screen-free time during homework and after 9:00 p.m. Help your child establish good homework habits that incorporate short screen time breaks but keep your child on task.
- Set a good example. Show your child through your daily actions that you enjoy other things aside from screen time, such as exercise, time with friends, reading and other activities. Remind your child that screen time can be beneficial, but too much passive screen time is not.
- Use technology to augment learning. There are all kinds of tools, apps and games that encourage children to develop their critical thinking skills and further their interests. A reasonable amount of screen time can actually help your child reinforce classroom learning, gain new skills and further their passions.
- Remember that healthy screen time habits are a good way to communicate. Smartphones, social media and email allow family and friends to stay connected even when physically apart. With school, your child can take advantage of this to collaborate with or get help from classmates.
Screen time is a hot topic these days, but it’s important to keep things in perspective. Not all screen time is bad, and many children develop healthy screen time habits with the help of supportive parents. When you need childcare services in the Delaware County area, trust Rising Stride. We have been providing childcare for infants and toddlers, as well as a preschool aged children. We employ a developmentally appropriate curriculum designed to stimulate your child’s intellectual growth. Call Rising Stride to enroll or visit us online to browse our program and services.