"Coronavirus" has made things worse... How can we rid our children of screen addiction - Enab Baladi

My grapes - Diana Rahima

Ms. Nour, Amir's mother, told Enab Baladi that even on family occasions in which her son gathers with his peers, tablets are an essential part of their activities during playtime, as the traditional games in which children spend their playtime no longer exist.

In the past, television stations limited children's programming viewing times to certain hours within their broadcast times, in accordance with the school education systems in each country, to ensure that the negative effects of excessive and unregulated viewing were minimized. However, the new digital means that display content through the Internet turned the table on attempts to organize viewing, turning it into a habit that can be practiced at any time and without limits, so that the “Corona emerging” virus (Covid-19) came and increased the problem by closing schools and home quarantine. , which transformed the entire educational process into digital means, so that study mixed with entertainment, play and random viewing throughout the days of the year.

Pediatric psychiatrist Alaa Dali told Enab Baladi that the wrong use of technology, often limited to electronic games and YouTube, poses great dangers to children’s mental and psychological health, especially at young ages when children’s language and social skills are completed at Communicate with others.

It also affects the child's mental aspect, as it makes the child fully focus on games, separates him from the events and people around him, and causes weakness in focusing on other life details, such as activities or motor games.

Digital games and excessive viewing also weaken the child's ability to communicate and interact with other children, which is essential at this age. Long hours of sitting on electronic devices may lead to depression in the child and severe attachment to them, and to bouts of sensitivity and anger, and not accepting real life. And interacting with the events in it, that is, moving away or separating from reality.

An alternative solution

According to the specialist Daly, one of the ways to help reduce children's use of digital means is to practice activities that replace these media, the most important of which is giving the father and mother more time for their child, and communicating with him through conversation and sharing toys And various activities at home, and not letting him spend a long time watching alone, in addition to reducing the child’s use of electronic devices and monitoring his use of them in general.

Giving the child a space of freedom to express himself and do the activities he loves, encouraging and directing him through them, is a necessity to integrate the child with other children, due to the role of effective communication in completing his social development and building his personality.

Auxiliary applications

Sameh is seven years old, and to find a solution to excessive viewing, his mother limited the viewing hours by downloading the “Family Link” application on his tablet, according to what she told Enab Baladi.

The application allows the child to use the device for a specific period that does not exceed three hours, which was determined by his mother, after which he can self-seal after the specified period ends.

Sameh gets angry sometimes at the end of the allotted period, but his reactions no longer reach outbursts of anger, especially after he realizes that there is a specific system for watching that cannot be skipped. his exact time.

How Long Watching Affects Our Children

Some children experience emotional outbursts, difficulties in making and maintaining friendships, have problems concentrating, tend to become withdrawn, anxious and restless, and lose interest in school or other hobbies.

Watching or excessive use of these media also results in a decrease in physical activity and an increased risk of weight gain.

Some children also have difficulty concentrating, and lose interest in school or other hobbies.

How long is appropriate

According to the recommendations of the Canadian Pediatric Society (CPS), children under the age of two should not be allowed to view any digital media.

While children between the ages of two and four are allowed less than one hour of watching per day.

Children and teens between the ages of five and 13 are allowed a maximum of two hours per day of recreational screen time (watching TV, messaging friends, or playing computer games).

Strategies for managing screen time

According to a report by the Australian “Raising children”, some plans can be put in place to reduce the excessive use of digital means by children, such as determining the number of hours that the child will spend per day in front of the TV.

Gradual changes must be followed and imposed to limit viewing time, help the child change his habits in spending time in front of the screen, and start reducing screen time in small steps until he reaches the recommended limits for the child's age group.

If a child spends more than two hours watching a day, for example, the time should be reduced by 15 minutes a day for a week at a time, to the recommended time for their age.

You should also start talking to the child about technology and its dangers, and create an environment that supports reducing screen time. If screen time is a large part of the child's routine, you can start by establishing rules that focus on gradual changes.

Screen time strategies for children between the ages of three and 11 include several key points, the most important of which is establishing family rules for determining screen time, routines, and various choices.

It is important to involve all family members when setting rules for screen use, and be flexible enough to cover school days, weekends and other holidays, and take into account the changing needs and interests as the child grows. .

Routines also help kids know what to do when and how often, which means routines can help limit screen time.

Parents can make the transition period in reducing viewing times into a positive period by directing the child to do things that he loves or is happy with, for example by pointing out good things that the child can look forward to after the viewing time is over, for example, “If you stop watching Now, you'll have time to play with your trains before dinner," with praise for the child to emphasize how well they work as a team.

If a child is playing or having a tantrum, they should not be given more time to watch because of this behavior, and parents should be understanding, but also clear and firm in return.

Screen-free space

You should designate screen-free areas in the home. These areas include mealtimes, bedrooms, and follow the “no TV or screens” rule before bed.

Children get a better night's sleep if they stop using screens at least 60-90 minutes before bedtime, which can be encouraged by relaxing activities such as reading, puzzles or bathing.

The time a child spends in front of the screen is an important and unavoidable part, especially as he grows up, and if the child is forced to stay at home for an extended period of time, it is necessary to use digital means for school, homework, and interaction with family and peers from the children, however It is important to set frequent breaks from screen time, avoid sitting for long periods, and set limits on “browsing” by parents.