By Janelle Peregoy
Ding! Ding!
Despite having our Tin Can (Wi-Fi enabled landline for kids) for months, its high-pitched ring still transports me back to 1998. My incoming fourth- and second-graders do not spend mindless hours talking while twisting the vintage cord. They do, however, call their neighborhood friends for approximately 20 seconds to see if they will go outside with them.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently updated its guidance to help support children and parents as they navigate a complicated digital ecosystem (social media, AI, online gaming, podcasts, digital assistants and more). Algorithms reinforce compulsive use while generating even more data about children’s preferences. The relationship that some children and teens cultivate with screens may lead to real-world harm.
In early childhood, frequent screen use correlates with delays in language, cognition and development of social skills. It reduces opportunities for reading, physical movement and exploration. In school-aged children, overuse of digital devices correlates to unhealthy sleep, lower academic performance, reduced attention span, limited exercise and risk for weight gain. Teens may be exposed to inappropriate content that promotes self-harm, eating disorders, violence or other dangerous behaviors. Negative effects may include sleep loss, negative peer pressure, reduced exercise and less
Read more...
