Happy Summer everyone! It has been a little while since we posted last. With website updates and internal changes, writing content has been on the back burner. But we are back and better than ever. School has been out for several weeks now, and I don't know about you, but when school first gets out I feel like I have so many fun things planned! Different craft ideas, vacations, BBQ's, etc. Slowly as the days start to pass my ideal summer dreams turn into most people's reality.
WAYYY too much time inside trying to beat the heat...
And what is the default of spending lots of time indoors? At least for me, turning to screens as a way to pass the time and have a little sanity. The problem is not only is excessive screen time bad for adults, but it is especially harmful to young children. See, a new study was recently published highlighting the effect that too much electronic exposure has on toddlers under 2 years old. And the results are frightening, to say the least.
This data comes from the National Children's Study, where a research team analyzed TV time among 1,471 kids up to 24 months old. Their results showed increased processing disorders such as sensory seeking (attraction to high stimulus things such as bright colors or shiny objects), avoiding, sensitivity, and low registration (delay in registering environmental sensors such as their name being called or a loud noise).
Karen Heffler, MD, one of the study's lead authors said, "At 18 months old, each additional hour of daily screen time for children was associated with a 23% increased likelihood of "high" sensory behaviors as well as later sensation avoiding and low registration."
Why is this an issue? Well, atypical sensory processing is commonly seen in several behavior health diagnosis including kiddos with ADHD and up to 90% of children with autism.
Heffler pointed out that babies "do not have the capability to fully understand what they see on TV or video, but the lights, colors, sounds and movement experienced during screen time would have an impact on how the neurons in the brain connect, potentially affecting sensory processing pathways and sensory-related behavior."
Even though it may take a little extra planning, there are so many benefits to reducing screen exposure with young kiddos as much as possible. One idea is to ditch screens at the dinner table. That goes for parents too. Children follow by example, and it is our responsibility to demonstrate the behavior we want to see. Use this as an opportunity to catch up on the day, talk about upcoming plans, and reunify as a family. For very young children, you could play a game such as 'I Spy' or naming the colors of different items they see around the room. There are lots of options when you get creative!
Most of the time we don't intend to spend so much time on electronics. More often than not, it 'just happens'. This can be remedied by have a few structured activities planned in our day. Maybe there is a specific craft you want to do. Take your kiddos to the store and have them help pick out the materials. Planning out certain board games or puzzles, specific times to go on a walk or driving somewhere new.
Parents are busy, especially moms. There is A LOT that goes into making sure the home runs smoothly from day to day. And you can't be expected to always be entertaining the children. While you can do your best to get them involved with age-appropriate chores and running errands, at the end of the day part of being a kid is learning it is ok to be bored.
While uncomfortable, boredom teaches kids invaluable life skills they are being robbed of by using the iPad as a pacifier. Psychologist Stephanie Lee said, "life requires us to manage our frustrations and regulate our emotions when things aren’t going our way, and boredom is a great way to teach that skill.” It is not the boredom itself that helps kids acquire these skills, rather what they do when they get bored. Through boredom, creativity occurs. A stick becomes a magic wand! Or a light saber, or a sword. A pillow isn't just for sleeping, it's a magic carpet and a pirate ship and a race car! Aside from initial creativity, boredom helps our kiddos learn problem solving skills, self-soothing techniques, organizational skills, patience etc. which will help set them up later when presented with group projects and long-term assignments.
Overall, making this change is not going to be easy. But growth and experience doesn't come when things are easy all the time. With anything uncomfortable, it takes a little grit and determination to say "I'm going to do this. I am going to make this change because I know it is for the best." And that is where we truly see rewards.
If you have any questions feel free to send them our way, we are more than happy to help you in any way that we can. Interested in ABA therapy? Or want help replacing screen time with your kiddo. Reach out! We would love to welcome you to our Sunshine Family.
