New study shows increased screen time delays child development
As a child my generation had latch key kids. These were kids who were left unsupervised without their parents who were busy working. The kids wore their keys around their necks to school. While screen time has been an issue pre covid it’s even more so since the pandemic. Its effects on early childhood are numerous according to a new study which claims that too much screen time delays school readiness.
The study showed that out of 100 students, 1 our 4 four were incompetent for school readiness. School readiness is the transition from preschool to formal schools. The study says that parents are using screens as babysitters. But a screen isn’t a person, technology no matter how advanced it gets can’t substitute the role of a parent. Unknowingly we are priming future generations to be dependent on technology. Furthermore, this is creating an artificial need to humanize a relationship with Screen time. One could argue this started with t.v. and pop culture but I digress.
Screen time isn’t the same as mom or dad reading you a book to bed. The body responds to certain physical cues by humans that are necessary for all people, especially children. The formative years of children are the most important and leave a lasting impact. If we can’t afford children, isn’t it selfish to satisfy our sexual desires to have children that we struggle to raise? For instance, our recent article focuses on the 17-year-old ninth-grader who only passed 3 classes in 4 years. Yet he is near the top 50th percentile of his class. Furthermore, His mother claims that she was raising two other kids and working 2 jobs. This was used as to why it took her almost four years to find out about her son failing school.
A seperate study found that kids who did well in preschool;
- Had lower divorce rates
- have stronger socio-emotional and self-regulation skills,
- leading to stable jobs
- fewer divorces
- more positive relationships with their children
With distant learning during the pandemic, screen time is gaining leverage for kids not to interact. While T.V. pop culture or neighborhood influences raised the latch key kids, Today the screen time pre-schoolers are getting off to a slower start. There is more access and influence over the internet as opposed to t.v in terms of content. Furthermore, there are way more people to come in contact with. If an adult has multiple windows opened while working, how can a pre-schooler possibly focus?
Their mind isn’t taught to comprehend these options, it doesn’t understand nor has the years of built-in discipline to say no. Today kids are not earning their free time as earlier generations did. Kids had to eat at the table before playing outside. Or finish their homework before video games. Now the video games are the same place where homework is thanks to screen time.
School readiness goes beyond counting to ten. Being able to self-regulate emotions, concentrating on problems, hygiene, etc. Kids don’t have to get ready for school and wash their bodies if they’re not leaving the homes. When a tough problem arrives are kids going to google the answer? If they can’t will they get upset because it will take patience? The major problem is these are things outside of school that are important. Will this generation of preschool screen-timers grow to not care about public appearance as much. 20 years ago kids weren’t wearing sandals and pajamas to school. School readiness also means that children can sit upright in a class all day. Screen time may teach children that they have to be entertained 24/7. Can we expect screen time kids to drop out sooner and at a higher rate?
The study says that no more than 1 hour a day for preschoolers, including computers and t.v. as well. Playing with toys and legos, Rubik’s cubes, and even outside helps hand-eye coordination and social skills. Legos help tune their fine motor skills. There is even a lego therapy that involves turn-taking, coordination skills, etc.
Will critical thinking become too difficult and spark anxiety and frustration? According to the study in Australia, children in low socioeconomic backgrounds were more vulnerable to being school readiness delayed. The same would hold true here in the U.S… School readiness
“The result is that many more preschools have children with greater needs, leaving them in desperate need for early childhood interventions such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, and physiotherapy.
University of Southern Australia
In conclusion, studying isn’t saying screen time is bad but the amount of time that takes away from other childhood activities that don’t balance time. Therefore this is a parenting issue just as much as a technological culture acceptance problem. Without much regulation, parents should be mindful of how and when they introduce screen time to their children. Making sure a trusted adult is present during covid may be more difficult but these are all the more reasons why being a parent isn’t for everyone.