“Concerning” Effects of Electronic Devices on Children’s Mental Health

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Screen time has become an inevitable part of most children’s lives, with older ones often needing to spend more time on tablets or smartphones to complete school assignments or to communicate with friends or peers.

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However, taking regular breaks from screens is crucial, according to mental health experts, as excessive use of electronic devices may pose a risk to your child’s mental health.

Some of the mental health impacts of excessive screen time on children include:

Anxiety and Depression

Recent research suggests that children who spend 7 hours a day in front of screens are twice as likely to show signs of anxiety and depression.

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These children rarely find time for mental rest, connecting with their surroundings, and enjoying a calm and peaceful mind. Their chances of thinking, reflecting, and innovating are also diminished.

Additionally, these children spend more time online in “virtual” relationships compared to physical social interactions with others.

Sleep Deprivation

When the sun sets, the human biological clock starts producing melatonin. However, the blue light emitted by most electronic devices inhibits melatonin production, which can keep your child awake all night.

Furthermore, playing video games or watching TV keeps children’s bodies and brains awake and active, reducing their feeling of sleepiness.

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A study showed that children aged 6 to 12 months who watch screens in the evening sleep significantly less at night compared to those who do not.

According to experts, late-night screen time also affects the sleep of pre-teens and teenagers, which impacts student behavior and academic performance.

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Delayed Development and Learning

Development occurs more rapidly in children, especially those under three years old. According to scientists, young children learn by exploring their surroundings, observing, and imitating the adults around them.

While children can watch TV as early as six months old, they generally do not understand the content until they are over two years old.

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Excessive screen time can hinder a child’s ability to observe and participate in normal daily activities that help them understand the world, creating a narrow view that may harm their overall development. It also affects their ability to learn new things, social interactions, and language development.

Short-term Memory Loss and Reduced Cognitive Ability

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 17.4% of children in the United States alone suffer from a mental disorder each year.

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Experts say that excessive screen use affects the fundamental structure of a child’s brain by shrinking the gray matter, which controls cognitive functions.

Principles to Keep Your Children Safe from Electronic Device Risks:

• Keep children aged two years or younger completely away from screens.
• Limit screen time to one hour per day for children aged 2 to 4 years.
• Children aged 6 to 18 years should not spend more than two hours per day in front of a screen.