Skip to main content
Screen Time
Paediatrics

The Growing Concern of Children's Screen Addiction

Dr. Amit Gupta Aug 09, 2024

Children’s addiction or preference for screens is a growing concern for many parents, yet most haven't spent time considering the reasons behind it. It's crucial for parents to be accountable for their child's screen time, whether on a mobile, tablet, computer, or television. These devices quickly capture a child's attention, and unregulated exposure can lead to addiction, irritability, and behavioural issues.

Parents often use screens as a convenient way to keep their child occupied, giving themselves time for other activities. However, it's important to engage children in activities that foster interest in their surroundings rather than on screens.

For children under two years of age, it's widely recommended to avoid screen exposure to promote better development. Even for children up to five years old, screen time should be limited to less than one hour per day. Parents should co-view the content with their children, interacting with them to break the passive monotony of screen time. Engaging in various activities, playing games, and doing creative things with children helps create a healthy environment for them to interact with.

Excessive and unregulated screen time is akin to providing a child with an unhealthy diet without considering its ingredients. Prolonged consumption of such "diet" can lead to issues like obesity, irritability, attention deficits, and poor learning.

Healthy screen time includes educational or social activities such as schoolwork or interactions with relatives and friends for a purpose. For older children, it may involve creative pursuits like arts, music, or spreading information. Relaxation through limited, predefined periods of screen time is also acceptable.

However, binging on screens without a purpose, such as endlessly scrolling through posts, looking at different profiles, playing unlimited video games, visiting adventure websites, watching age-inappropriate TV shows, or engaging in violent behaviour, indicates unhealthy screen time.

To prevent children from preferring screens over parental interaction, it's important to understand the potential harm screens can cause. TIME is the most important investment parents can make with their children. It's not only a responsibility but a sheer pleasure of parenthood to be a guide to their own children. Healthy viewing means limited viewing, both in content and time.

Categories

Clear all

Meet the doctor

Dr. Amit Gupta
Dr. Amit Gupta
DIRECTOR PAEDIATRICS | Fortis Faridabad
  • Paediatrics | Paediatrics | Neonatology
  • Date 23 Years
  • INR 650

Related Blogs

View all
Baby’S First Winter: How To Protect Newborns In Cold Weather
Paediatrics

Baby’S First Winter: How To Protect Newborns In Cold Weather

admin May 29, 2023
Coronavirus Vaccination In Children
Paediatrics

Coronavirus Vaccination In Children

admin Mar 18, 2023
Exercise & Asthma
Paediatrics

Exercise & Asthma

Dr. Rajat Kumar Gupta Nov 07, 2023
Respiratory Ailments In Children Due To Air Pollution
Paediatrics

Respiratory Ailments In Children Due To Air Pollution

Dr. Sumita Saha Oct 31, 2023
Heart Diseases In Children
Paediatrics

Heart Diseases In Children

Dr. Rajat Kumar Gupta Nov 08, 2023
blog
Paediatrics

Childhood Cancer: Myths Busted

Dr. Anand Sinha Oct 23, 2015
blog
Paediatrics

Healthy Breakfast Means Healthy Kids

Healthy Breakfast Means Healthy Kids Sep 18, 2015
Sunscreen Protects From Skin Damage
Paediatrics

Sunscreen Protects From Skin Damage

admin Jan 23, 2024
blog
Paediatrics

Pollution: The Main Cause of Childhood Asthma

Dr. Neetu Talwar Jul 29, 2015
High Blood Pressure In Kids!
Paediatrics

High Blood Pressure In Kids!

Dr. Rahul Nagpal Nov 07, 2023
barqut

Keep track of your appointments, get updates & more!

app-store google-play
Request callback