Children and teenagers spend excessive time on watching
devices, such as cellphones, televisions, tablets, gaming consoles, and
computers, in our digital age. It is challenging for parents, to stop their children
from excessive internet scrolling. Screen timing has multiple positive factors
like age groups, parental controls, parental barriers, parental descriptive
norms, having televisions in bedrooms, and many others.

Toddlers and teenagers spend a lot of time watching animated
movies or cartoons or playing video games.  Most parents allow their children to use
their phones or other electronic devices to engage them, and sometimes it is
difficult for them to keep their eyes on their children’s internet activities. It
is an alarming time when your ignorance can cause chances of exploitation of
your children because they are new to it and are not enough mature to know its
pros and cons.

Impacts of Screen Time

Image by Mikhail Nilov from Pexels

Although screens are used to entertain, educate, and keep your
children engaged, their excessive use and lack of supervision can lead to
physical and mental health issues. Parents who give their children electrical
gadgets without parental supervision are showing a major mistake because they do
not realize that exposing youngsters to the internet without supervision might
lead to serious difficulties. Here are some examples of how exposing your
children to the web without supervision might be detrimental.

• Your child can be exposed to Vulnerability and violence, and
  such behaviors are dangerous for their growth and development.
• There are some apps which are highlighting daredevil stunts
  or challenges that could lead to dangerous behavior
• Content that is sexual in nature
• Use of drugs and other chemicals, which are hazardous to
  their health. Elder children use younger ones in such activities.
• Predators, hackers, and online trolls have negative impacts.
• Incorrect or fake information and news have
  negative impacts on the mental development of children

 Excessive screen time might lead to:

• Your child’s mental and physical health 
• Lack of sleep or disturbed sleep
• It establishes a habit of poor performance and lower marks
  in academics
•  Lack of interest in book reading and creativity
• Lack of socialization can have negative impacts on their
  communication skills.
• Sitting in one place can develop binge-eat habits, and it
  can contribute to obesity.
• Mood fluctuations are much more common (In Pakistan a teenager killed
  his mother and siblings because he lost in a PUBG game and in anger, he killed his
  whole family)
• Develop habits of comparison, which leads to a lack
  of confidence
• Inappropriate content can destroy their future

It is difficult and challenging for parents to manage a
child’s screen time because of busy schedules or other commitments. A
screen-time schedule is never too early for your youngster. As a starting
point, consider the following:

Limit screen time:

• Between the ages of 18 and 24 months, screen use should be
  limited to educational content watched with a caregiver.
• Limit non-educational screen usage for children ages 2 to 5
  to around 1 hour per workday and 3 hours each weekend day.
• Try to engage and encourage healthy habits in your
  child and minimize screen-based activities for children aged 6 and up.
• During family meals and trips, all members have to turn
  off all gadgets. As it exchanges positive vibes among families.
• Learn about parental controls and how to use them.
• Avoid using screens as pacifiers, babysitters, or as a way
  to get your child to stop crying. 

Screens can provide benefits, and here are a few more
pointers to keep in mind:

• Make sure the content is age-appropriate by acquainting
  yourself with it.
• Discuss what you’re seeing with your child. Good behavior,
  such as cooperation, friendship, and care for others, should be highlighted.
  Make connections to events or places of interest that are relevant to you.
• Be conscious of how advertising influences your decisions.
• Encourage your youngster to participate in non-screen
  activities such as sports, music, art, and hobbies.
• Set a good example by practicing safe and healthy screen
  habits yourself.
• Teach children about the importance of online privacy and
  security.
• Decide with your child when he or she is ready for a
  personal device.
• Encourage family and friends to use screens in ways that
  foster creativity and connection.
• Take into account your child’s or teen’s age and behavior. An
  excellent plan for one family might not be suitable for another.
• With adequate guidance and consistency, positive and healthy
  screen use is possible.

Some parents have noticed suspicious behavioral changes in their
children, while others have discovered that certain groups are more active on
gaming sites and that these groups approach minor children and trap them in
their tricks, which is a worrying situation because children are being abducted
and trafficked and used for a wide range of improper conduct.

It is preferable to keep a check on your children’s actions
and behaviors, to have parental control, and to know everything about their
online screen time, friends circle, and their chat, and so on. There are multiple paid and free parental control apps for all internet users and these apps can help you to have access to your children’s internet.

To read more about screen time click on  Recommended Screen Time By Age.