Latest / 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids. / Signs Your Child is Getting Too Much Screen Time

Transcript

Signs Your Child is Getting Too Much Screen Time · 5–Minute Parenting: Tips to Help You Raise Competent, Godly Kids.

• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to another episode of 5-Minute Parenting.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: Today we're going to be talking about how much is too much screen time for our kids.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: Last week we looked at a recent study that said early access by kids to screens is associated with atypical sensory processing.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_00: We as a society are becoming increasingly aware of the potential dangers of too much screen time.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: For all of the good that technology has to offer, there are certainly many drawbacks.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: This technology is all too new for us to know exactly how much is too much.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: With more and more research studies being done, parents can't help but wonder how to handle this aspect of their child's life.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Nevertheless, there are some key signs of overuse.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: Number one, your child is regularly overstimulated.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: Overstimulation is one of the first signs of too much screen time.
• 1:33
  SPEAKER_00: It's also one of the most common and most prevalent symptoms.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: Signs of overstimulation include aggression, bouts of crying, can't sit still, emotional shutdown or seeming to go numb, irritability, meltdowns, and oppositional or defiant behavior.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, these symptoms of overstimulation can have many causes.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: Furthermore, there can be some overlap with mental health issues.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: For example, a child with high anxiety may get easily overstimulated.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_00: As a result, they may not be able to tolerate as much screen time as another child because too much screen time just exasperates the existing anxiety.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: The second sign, physical signs of too much screen time.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: In addition to behavioral signs of overstimulation, there are some physical signs that parents can look out for.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: The first thing is to pay attention to your child's eyes.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: Are their eyes dilated after screen time?
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: Do they have trouble making eye contact, especially after using devices?
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: How is their vision?
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: After all, too much screen time can lead to eye strain and related vision problems.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Additionally, take note of your child's sleeping habits.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: In particular, look for the quote, tired but wired effect.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: In other words, the child is tired but can't sleep, similar to when they have had too much sugar or caffeine.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_00: Insomnia is a very common symptom of too much screen time.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: Finally, consider any physical ailments.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: Does your child have headaches and or muscle pain?
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: Do they have digestive issues?
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: These things can have many causes.
• 3:29
  SPEAKER_00: You will have to rule them out.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: But screen time can be one cause.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: Number three, your child likes screens more than people.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: Take note of your child's interactions with others, particularly with peers.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: Do they enjoy doing things in person with their friends?
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_00: On the other hand, are most of their friends actually people they communicate with primarily or entirely online?
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: If your child prefers screen time to face-to-face interaction, then they might have too much screen time.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: They certainly aren't alone in this.
• 4:03
  SPEAKER_00: Social media and texting are popular modes of communication.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: However, it is important for children to spend time socializing with others in person.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: This is how they learn to empathize with others, understand and use nonverbal communication skills, and interact with a diverse range of people.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: If your child has trouble with these things, limiting screen time may help.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: Number four, your child reacts poorly to no screen time.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: What happens when you tell your child that it's time to turn off their devices?
• 4:39
  SPEAKER_00: How about if when the Wi-Fi goes out?
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_00: Some children grumble a little bit and then find something else to do.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: However, if your child is already exposed to too much screen time, they might not handle this very well.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: If your child throws a tantrum, doesn't know what to do with themselves, or keeps talking about their devices, then they probably need a longer break from the screen.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: Child counseling increasingly addresses issues related to too much screen time.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_00: If your child exhibits more and more of the above behaviors that aren't corrected by limiting their screen time, you may want to seek out a child counselor.