Key points
- Screen times eat 12pc of children’s lives by 8
- It causes mental, physical, and social retardation
- Children need to be encouraged to go for physical activities
ISLAMABAD: A recent expert report has revealed that by the age of eight, almost every child has spent an average of one year in front of screens. It makes 12 per cent of their lives.
This revelation has raised serious concerns about the long-term impacts of excessive screen exposure on young children, according to Coreneurohealth.
Screen time and social media not only take away their time but also negatively affect their growth and personalities.
Excessive screen time can lead to issues such as poor concentration, disrupted sleep patterns, delayed language development, and reduced physical activity, which can contribute to childhood obesity, according to Belmont Eye Center.
Digital tools overuse
Health specialists also argue that the overuse of digital tools can impact social skills. As children become more immersed in virtual content, they may experience difficulties with real-world interactions, empathy development, and emotional regulation.
“My son, 6-year-old, starts crying and angry whenever I take away his mobile phone from him, he eats well when he is looking at his favourite cartoon,” says a confused resident of G-13, Islamabad.
Psychologists highlight that digital overstimulation can affect brain development, particularly in areas related to attention span and impulse control, writes Olivia Brouillette in her online blog.
“Research shows links between excessive screen time and different physical and mental health issues in children. These issues range from obesity, depression, and behavioural complexities to anxiety,” said Dr Altaf Hussain, a psychologist, and an expert in the field.
He said, “It also stops them from having the prescribed amount of sleep, which harms them physically along with impacting their performance in the classroom.”
Better sleep quality
Children must spend less time sitting glued to screens. They should get better quality sleep and have more time for physical activities if their parents want them to grow up healthy, according to new guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Achieving health for all means doing what is best for health right from the beginning of people’s lives,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “Early childhood is a period of rapid development and a time when family lifestyle patterns can be adapted to boost health gains.”
“Improving physical activity, reducing sedentary time and ensuring quality sleep in young children will improve their physical, mental health and wellbeing, and help prevent childhood obesity and associated diseases later in life,” said Dr Fiona Bull, programme manager for surveillance and population-based prevention of disease that are noncommunicable, at WHO.
“What we really need to do is bring back play for children,” says Dr Juana Willumsen, WHO expert on childhood obesity and physical activity. “This is about making the shift from sedentary time to playtime while protecting sleep.”
Reducing screen time
Experts suggest proactive steps are necessary to help curb screen time and encourage healthier habits for children
Limit daily screen time according to age-appropriate guidelines, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation of no more than one hour for children aged 2-5.
Encourage physical play, sports, and nature exploration to balance screen exposure with real-world experiences.
Parents need to be careful while using digital devices in front of their children as research shows children only listen to 30 per cent of what we say to them.
They learn more from seeing, observing, and experimenting with things in their surroundings.