Let Them Play!

Technology has become a powerful and useful tool over the past few years. It has become something so vital for us, it's basically an extension of ourselves.

Unfortunately, we have become far too dependent on these screens for our entertainment. We have even started using them to entertain and pacify our young ones.

Today, it's not rare to see a child with a tablet or a phone in hand at all times. They're becoming addicted to these items, through no fault of their own.

Children don't play enough. The amount they spend in front of a screen has risen over the past few years.

Screen Use

• 2-4 year olds watch about 2-4 hours a day
• 50% of kid's screen time is in front of a TV
• Leads to a higher risk of obesity
• Less ability to focus

Screen Use

• 8-18 year olds spend an average of 7 hours and 38 minutes on all media outlets A DAY
• Affects learning how to interact with others

High Screen Use is Linked To...

• Watching > 2 hours a day = lower scores in language and thinking tests
• Watching > 7 = thinning of the cortex--related to critical thinking & reasoning
• Poor eating habits
• Less sleep

High Screen Use is Linked To...

• Low development in white matter
• Language delays
• Behavioral problems

What Are The Effects?

• The blue light of the TV inhibits melatonin and delays sleep in youngchildren
• Children directed shows are highly entertaining and when facing the real world, things aren’t as captivating and behavioral problems ensue
• Children can learn bad behaviors from shows and become aggressive

What Are The Effects?

• Too much screen time make children become passive learners, using technology as a distraction rather than a tool.
• Many children are not watching educational programs and learn poor social skills from televisio

What Are The Effects?

• Parents and young children interact less with more screen use, as a result, children don’t learn as many word
• More screen time means more time sitting and less time being active, children can become overweight

So what CAN we do?

Get moving!

• Exercise is essential to a child's health. Exercise has been proven to help children cognitively and physically. Children spend an average of 7.5 hours on screen time, with the right encouragement they can spend much of that time outside!
• Let's move is a program to help get kids out and active. https://letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/get-active

Let's play!

• Team sports is a great way to get children off of their screens and socializing with their peers. Team sports have shown that they help reduce the risk of obesity in development, helps children sleep better, and improve personal/socal skills.
• https://www.tomballlittleleague.com/

Work for it!

• Allowing children to engage in free play is incredibly beneficial. Free play encourages creativity, decision making, and confidence. By allowing children to lead their own play time will make them enjoy doing so more and in turn get them to put the device down.