Joyce Garcia
Now, more than ever, technology is more portable and affordable. This means that families have easier access to devices, such as iPads or phones. With the newly technological advancing world we’re living in today, there’s not enough research on how this technology is affecting our well-being, especially the development of our children. Although these devices are created to make our lives easier, those bright screens can also be detrimental to our psychological and physical wellbeing. This is due to the lack of activity and movement it takes to be on an iPad or watching t.v. An increase in screen time for children means a decrease in physical activity level and social interactions that help children master their ability to regulate their behavior. Because a child’s brain is rapidly developing in the first five years of life, it is important to refrain from activities that make children more sedentary so that they have the opportunity to further stimulate and arouse their minds. This study examined how a child’s average screen time is associated with the child’s physical activity and how well they perform on self-regulating tasks. Using the ECLS-K data for 1st graders, we were able to test the correlations between certain variables. Children who spend more time on a screen, on average, score lower on self-regulating tasks than children who spend less time on a screen. We also found that children who spent more time on a screen, spent less time doing an activity that required exercise.
Comments
There has been some discussion of quality of screen time as well, so when parents co-watch or discuss content as well as use of educational apps. What do you think of these types of uses of screen time given your research? – Keryn Pasch
Based of research, these types of uses for screen time are actually beneficial to the child’s learning if the parent is actively engaging in whatever they’re watching/playing with the child. This gives the child the opportunity to ask questions and engage in conversation with their parent. However, if the parent is just there next to their child not paying attention to what the child is watching, then the use of screen time is less beneficial (sometimes detrimental) to the child’s learning. – Joyce Garcia
This work is important under normal circumstances, but given the changes to children’s schedules and activities in light of the current pandemic, it’s also extremely timely. Great job! – Rob Reichle
I agree with you Rob! With children spending more time at the house more than ever, there will be an increase in the amount of screen time they’ll be having. I predict that there will be repercussions of this event in the psychological and physical well being of our children. – Joyce Garcia