Children of today are a different breed, literally. Unlike their parents, these children were born in an era when connectivity is the norm and information is readily available at their fingertips.
According to a study by Tanisha N et al, about 95.9% of pre-school children use digital device in Malaysia with a mean age of exposure at 3.9 years.1 The same study looked at parental perception of risks over the use of screens amongst their children. 90% of parents felt that there was a risk of damaging the eyesight, while 81.3% were concerned about exposure to radiation and 71.9% felt there was a risk of inactive lifestyle. The risk of device addiction was a concern amongst 86.3% of parents while 74% and 71% of parents agreed that there was a risk of undesirable content and overdependence respectively. Some parents felt that exposure to gadgets had positive effects, particularly in the intellectual domain, where 62.6% of parents agreed that devices promote creative and interactive learning.
Staring at the screen for long hours, however, is bound to have adverse effects. This is in part related to the artificial blue light emitted by these devices. While not enough to cause retinal damage, exposure to blue light from screens of devices has been shown to affect the circadian rhythm, delay the onset of sleep, decrease sleep quality, impair alertness the following day, reduce duration of REM sleep, and suppress melatonin.2 Extended use may also cause dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches.3 It is also associated with daytime tiredness.4 This will in turn affect their ability to pay attention and absorb what is being taught in class, leading to poor school performance and psychological problems.5,6
While the effects are seen in all age groups, melatonin suppression is more profound in children, whose pupil diameters are also significantly larger than adults, both in dim and bright conditions.7 Exposure to gadgets at 24 months is associated with lower reading at 36 months, which in turn results in greater screen exposure at 60 months and increases the risk of obesity.8,9
Addressing the elephant in the room: perceived advantages of gadgets versus documented harm
Children, particularly those under the age of two, need real life examples and interactions to be able to learn something and apply it. For example, a child may learn his alphabets, words, and numbers from apps on the phone or tablet. However, he is unable to use them in real life settings. Basically, this child will just parrot what he learned. These apps are also unable to teach higher order thinking skills, emotional regulation, task persistence, impulse control, and creative, flexible thinking. Most of the so-called educational apps have no proven benefits and were developed without the input from a developmental paediatrician or educator.
A child who learns from people around him, on the other hand, will be able to use these words to effectively communicate his needs and demands. Through direct interaction, he will learn the boundaries, and consequences, of his actions. Through trial and error, he will develop creative and flexible thinking, which is best taught through unstructured physical play and parent-child interaction.
Sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality have a huge impact on a child’s ability to perform, as well as growth and development. Blue light from the screen has been shown to suppress melatonin, a hormone that induces sleepiness, and interfere with rapid-eye-movement (REM) phase of sleep. To ensure a restful night’s sleep, do not allow your child to use any gadgets one hour before bedtime.
Screen exposure is associated with an increased risk of obesity, partly because the child is not aware that he is full, as his eyes are glued on the screen. Do not allow screen time during meals. Ironically, many parents introduce gadgets during meal times for this very reason – so that they can feed their child with minimum fuss. However, this is a short-term solution, and will bring about greater long-term problems.
Children’s eyes tire easily. Pay close attention to the signs of tired eyes, namely watery eyes, frequent rubbing, or squinting. Remove gadgets from them after one hour and get them to partake in other activities that do not require them to focus too much. This can be outdoor play, cycling, swimming, or painting, to name a few. While there are many visual aids in the market to reduce the glare and blue light exposure, these are more geared towards people who have to spend long hours looking at the screen. These devices do not and will not aid the social and mental development of the child. The solution is not in the blue light glasses, but rather the device itself. Children between two to five years should only be exposed to the screen for one hour per day.
Finally, the most important point. Children learn through observation. As parents, we should not be glued to our devices as it limits our interaction with our child. Keep the phones away during mealtimes and when playing with children. Only then will they benefit from two-way interactions.
In the 21st century, when information is readily available at our fingertips, it is important that the source of information does not harm us or our children. It is also important that we monitor and vet through the contents of what our children are watching. Remember when we were little? How our parents would walk alongside us trying to ride a bicycle or rollerblades? We need to do the same for our children. Not just with the physical activities, but also online. Be there for them and guide them so they can develop in a balanced manner and grow up capable of making the correct decisions.
