SCREENS and KIDS BRAINS

American Academy of Pediatrics has found that the screen time with kids is so passive that the white matter of the brain does not develop.  It appears that passive watching is more destructive than the amount of time spent on the screen.  The part of the brain most impacted is the white matter.  This is the part of the brain responsible for problem solving, learning, and the way to make sense of experiences in the world.  I understand that talking about screen time and how much time one spends on screens can be as spicy as talking about politics.  People are very sensitive about their screens and do not like to be told how much time to be on them.  Kids are no different, if you are a parent, you know what I mean when I say it is difficult to get your kids off their screens for dinner, homework or to shut them down for bedtime.  It can be like trying to get a bone away from a hungry dog.   

Screens are addictive and there is much data relating screen addiction to a cocaine addiction.  The National Institute of Health (NIH) performed MRI scans of kids that spent over seven hours a day on screens.  The findings were very concerning for me as a grandmother of an 8-year-old, there was thinning of their brain’s cortex.  This happens to be a very important part of the brain for thought, memory, perception language, attention, awareness and consciousness.  This is a great deal of brain matter to be negatively impacted and yet we all expect our kids to go to school, learn, and do well and succeed when their ability to concentrate is impaired.  When the phone lights up letting us know, there is a message or a new U-Tube video, our brains release a rush of dopamine which triggers the pleasure center in our brain, and we immediately tap on the screen.  The problem with this natural function of our brains is that every time we tap on something it releases dopamine and the more dopamine we get flooded with, the more we want and crave and so the more we tap, the cycle continues which increase the drive for more.  

While I was writing this blog something lit up on my phone screen that caught my attention, and I stopped writing and clicked on it.  It was a video of some young kids in London connecting with the Mounted Guard and their horses.  The kids were so sweet and the horses so welcoming and curious about them, I felt a warm feeling fill me inside.  I wanted more; I scrolled down to find similar videos.  I watched dogs playing, dogs and cats playing, dogs, cats and kids playing, funny videos, some intense videos, I cried, a had some good belly laughs, and became angry watching some political videos.  I couldn’t stop scrolling and it felt like an emotional roller coaster I couldn’t get off.  Then my dog began to paw at me, whine and push my scrolling arm to get my attention – it was an hour past her dinner time.  It took another 8–10 minutes for me to feel grounded and present.  I felt disoriented and struggled to return to this piece for some time after.  I know I am not alone in experiencing this time warp of scrolling.  

This is an unhealthy brain pattern that keeps us glued to our devices wanting increasingly more, but let’s look at kids that already have a difficult time focusing – ADHD.  Their neurodiverse brain is already struggling to focus on one thing as their amazing brains are taking in everything at one time.    The screens can be overstimulating for them and create more difficulty focusing on class or reading a book, or staying connected to someone in a face-to-face conversation.  Schools and therapists’ offices create social skills groups for kids to learn how to notice body language, how to listen and respond to someone talking to them.  Families are spending money for their child to learn and practice this skill that is not being practice anywhere else.  It is suggested by researchers that kids and teens need to weave in social activities and physical activities to keep those amazing brains of their stimulated in the ways that increase all the important things like creativity, comfortability with social interaction, and being able to focus and retain information, the ability to sit long enough to read a book and follow a story line.  Kids with anxiety, depression, or who already have social challenges or if a child is using the screens to escape their social struggles and avoid face-to-face interaction, then, the difficulty grows like weeds in your garden.

Dan Seigal has a popular saying in the neuroscience field “What fires together is wired together.” So, if the brain neuro-networks are not getting stimulated to connect due to elevated screen time than there is little to fire.  Or as the saying goes, garbage in garbage out. Electronic devices are with us and their involvement in our lives may likely increase, there is no turning back, but we can learn how to limit ourselves and to make sure we balance out our lives with other activities.  The research now is focusing on what the potential benefits of screens and their use in education as well as the potential physical and mental health drawbacks.  It is amazing that the first-generation iPhone was only introduced 13 years ago.  

The world Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have both put out some guidelines for parents to have an idea of what is too much and how to balance viewing with activity.  No screen time for all children before the ages of 18-24 months but they do make an exception for video chatting with grandma!  Children between the ages of 2-5 years should get an hour or less of screen time per day.  It is also recommended that parents keep check on what their kids are viewing and be more aware and involved.  It is our responsibility as parents to help our kids learn balance in their lives.  I lost 1 ½ hours scrolling but it easily could have been much more because of the endlessness of the supply.  In my practice I see kids that are not sleeping at night, they are staying up late watching videos or chatting with friends.  Teacher’s report seeing blank stares and acting out behavior due to the child not getting enough sleep so they can focus or manage their behavior.  Parents are busy these days and it is difficult to keep up with kids, but we need to try and roll model to them how difficult it is and that even adult struggle with the addiction, but we are trying to do better.  

The good news for our children and for us as parents is that there is a way to support the healthy growth of our kids’ brains and help them be the best self they can be and still use their devices.

  • Follow the guidelines set up by WHO and AAP.
  • Model healthy relationship with screens.
  • Maybe set some boundaries like unplugging at mealtimes and bedtimes.
  • Parents no chatting on the phone while driving – and handheld devices are outlawed in many states and absolutely NO texting.
  • Parents model other ways of relaxing or entertaining yourselves.
  • Engage in some physical activity with kids, maybe shooting hoops, walking, or riding bikes.
  • Read books or have music night introducing different music maybe each person gets to introduce something new to the family.  This is a great way to also understand your kid’s music and what they are listening to and a chance to connect with them on something important to them.  
  • Be brave parents you can leave your devise in another room for a few hours of play with your kids!

 

By Dottie Kelly

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