Screen time is the amount of time that we spend using a device like, mobile, laptop, TV, etc. Too much screen time is not healthy for any individual of any age group and can lead to several health risks such as,
- Amnesia due to the inability to leave the screen and sleep at night
- Obesity due to lack of sleep and habit of undue eating with every screen time activity
- Anxiety and depression due to losing contact with the outside world and subconsciously creating unrealistic expectations from life
- Eye problems due to drying of capillaries resulting from over stress on eyes.
- Chronic neck and back pain due to poor posture during screen time
- Unhealthy choices due to frequent advertisement on these medias,
and a lot more.
We don’t recommend that getting rid of your device is a good idea but it is a better that we limit the screen time for everyone. But how much screen time is good for you and your kids? :
- It is recommended that we keep the screen time to a minimum in kids younger than two years of age.
- For kids in the age group of 2-5 years of age, it is recommended that they get at best 1-hour of screen time per day.
- For kids more than 5-years of age, the recreational or enjoyment related screen time must be limited to 2-hours or less.
- Teens must also keep their screen time limited to 2-hours or less. But this limit is not applied to their education-related activities.
- For people above the age of 19 or 20, the screen time includes work-related activities, recreational activities and much more. It is necessary to curb the desire for these devices and limit your usage to a minimum outside your daily official need.
Over usage for these devices is often linked to behavioural addiction just like gambling where a person increases their said activity with the notion of ‘just a bit more and then I will stop’.
Some of the most recommended ways to curb screen time and get rid of some of its side effects are:
- Take regular breaks: Stand up, stretch and move around at regular intervals like every half an hour. This break should be for at least 5-minutes or more.
- Be conscious of your body and its fitness: Pay attention to your posture and don’t eat in front of the screen.
- Download a good screen time app: Downloading screen time app and try using the media in a healthy way. There are some really good screen time apps like Kids Place that let you choose the time for which the user is able to use a particular set of applications. The app also helps you monitor the activities of your ward and keeps them safe from online hazards.
- Encourage child for outdoor activities: The most important part to play as a parent is to encourage a child into engaging in outdoor activities. Create media-free zones on dinner tables, etc. where mobiles, laptops, etc cannot be used and people interact with each other.
Download Kids Play now to enjoy a healthy screen time and also limit the screen time of your kids to a healthy level. The app also saves your kids from accessing age-inappropriate and other harmful content.