Screens and kids: dangers and solutions for balanced use

Using screens and young children raises many concerns...

It's 7:30 in the morning. You're still a bit groggy, coffee in hand, while your child is already hypnotized by their favorite cartoon. Tempting, right? You take advantage of a moment of respite to quickly check your emails or scroll through Instagram. It's so easy, so convenient. But it's time to ask a crucial question: what's really happening in those moments when screens and young children come together every day?

"Technology is a good servant but a bad master"
- George Orwell

The Screen, a "mirror" for our children

Screens are everywhere! Phones, tablets, TVs, computers, even smartwatches… It's almost impossible to escape them. And our kids, being the observant little ones they are, copy our every move with amazing precision. We're their first role models, and our habits shape theirs.

When we're constantly glued to our screens, what message are we sending to our children? We're showing them that screens are not only okay but essential. So, it's no surprise they're constantly asking for more screen time themselves. They're just imitating what they see. That's why limiting our kids' screen time has to start with us.

Different screens: an environment overload

Our children are surrounded by all sorts of screens, from the TV in the living room to the tablets on the coffee table, and smartphones always within reach. Even in schools, screens are starting to take up a significant space, often in the form of interactive whiteboards and educational tablets.

This constant presence of screens can make it tough for parents trying to limit their use. However, it's super important to stay on top of it. Screens shouldn't become the easy way out to keep kids busy. Instead, it's crucial to offer them enriching and stimulating alternatives.

Leading by example: the importance of parental availability

To reduce screen dependency, it's essential for parents to be available and present for their children. This sometimes means putting our own devices aside and creating quality moments with them. It's not about being a perfect parent, but rather showing that we can be attentive, engaged, and ready to interact without a screen in between.

Here are some concrete solutions for parents:

• Set screen-free times for the whole family: Whether it's during meals or at the end of the day, turn off all screens and enjoy some time together. Leave your phones in another room and focus on your children.
• Get outdoors: Getting out in nature, going for a walk, bike ride, or playing in the park are excellent alternatives to screens. These activities allow children to move, discover, and burn off energy.
• Suggest board games and creative activities: Board games are a great way to spend time as a family while developing cognitive and social skills. Similarly, activities like painting, drawing, or crafts stimulate a child's creativity.
• Launch family screen-free challenges: Suggest fun challenges, like a whole day without screens. Turn it into an adventure where each family member has to find activities to do together, away from screens.

Why are screens harmful for toddlers?

Screens and young children often don't mix well, and here's why.

1. Over-stimulation and Cognitive Fatigue: Screens grab children's attention by providing intense visual and auditory stimuli, which aren't natural for a developing brain. These stimuli can be too complex for a young mind, creating cognitive fatigue that can show up as irritability and behavioral issues.
2. Delayed Language Development: Young children learn to talk by interacting with their parents and listening to their environment. When screen time replaces conversations and reading, language development can suffer. Screens don't allow for the interactive exchanges needed for language acquisition.
3. Social Isolation: Children need social interactions to learn to share, cooperate, and develop empathy. Time spent in front of a screen is often time spent alone, which limits opportunities to learn these crucial social skills.
4. Sleep Problems: The blue light emitted by screens messes with the production of melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. This can lead to trouble falling asleep, poor sleep quality, and frequent awakenings. For young children, quality sleep is essential for their growth and development.

What do "real" activities bring to children?

Unlike passive screen activities, "real" activities – those that involve physical, social, and cognitive interactions – offer multiple and unmatched benefits for children's development.

1. Cognitive Development: Activities like building blocks, drawing, or puzzles encourage children to think, solve problems, and make decisions. These games nurture their imagination and stimulate their natural curiosity, essential skills for learning.
2. Motor Development: Young children need to explore their environment to develop their motor skills. Activities like running, climbing, or manipulating objects allow them to strengthen their coordination, strength, and balance.
3. Social Interaction: Shared games, whether with parents or other children, teach valuable social skills like communication, sharing, and collaboration. These interactions are essential for children's emotional and relational development.
4. Learning through Experience: Manual and sensory activities, such as finger painting, playdough, or games in nature, allow children to learn through direct experimentation. These experiences are fundamental to understanding the world around them and developing an awareness of themselves and their environment.
5. Emotional Regulation: Free and creative play offers children an opportunity to express, understand, and manage their emotions. They learn to recognize their feelings and find appropriate ways to express them, which is crucial for their emotional development.

Recommended screen time: what do experts say?

On the subject of screens and young children, experts have their opinions. For young children, the recommendations are clear and definitive:

• 0 to 2 years: No screens at all. Toddlers need to discover the world through touch, sight, sound, and human interactions. Screens, with their blue light and rapid images, can be confusing for a brain that's still developing.
• 2 to 5 years: No more than one hour per day, preferably with an adult present who can help contextualize what the child is seeing. This time should be used for quality, educational, and interactive content.
• 5 to 6 years old: Up to one hour per day, focusing on enriching content. It's super important to keep an eye on what they're watching and chat about it together.

These tips are key to helping your child build their thinking and social skills without getting too hooked on screens.

The "4 STEPS": a practical guide to protect our children

Ever heard of the '4 NOs'? It's a simple and effective way to help parents manage their kids' screen time:

1. No screens in the morning before school: Screens in the morning can make little ones irritable and distracted, which can make the school day tougher.
2. No screens during meals: Mealtimes are awesome for family chats. Put the screens away and enjoy talking and sharing together.
3. No screens before bed: Screens mess with kids' sleep. The blue light from screens messes with melatonin production, which is the sleep hormone. Turn off screens at least an hour before bedtime.
4. No screens in the bedroom: Screens in the bedroom not only mess with sleep, but they can also lead to too much screen time that's hard to control.

These simple rules help reduce the negative effects of screens on young children while protecting important moments of the day.

I invite you to read Sabine DUFLO's book " Stop aux écrans".

In practice: what to do when the screen seems like the only option?

Let's be real, sometimes parents give in to screens to avoid a meltdown or keep their child busy. Here are some common situations and some real alternatives to screens.

1. In the waiting room at the doctor's office:

• Alternative: Pack a little activity kit with crayons, a small drawing pad, or even stickers. You could also bring a picture book or an interactive book to keep your child entertained while sparking their imagination and curiosity.

2. At a restaurant while waiting for food:

• Alternative: Get your child involved in simple games like 'I spy with my little eye...' or bring table toys like figurines or magnetic puzzles. These activities can be fun and educational, while keeping your child calm and busy.

3. During car rides:

• Alternative: Create a playlist of stories or songs that your child loves. Audiobooks are also a great alternative that can turn a car ride into a storytelling adventure. Plus, playing classic games like 'Riddles' or 'Who am I?' can make the trip more interactive and fun.

4. At home, when you need a moment for yourself:

• Alternative: Set up a special corner for your child with toys they don't use often, or suggest a creative activity like modeling with playdough, creating collages, or building a fortress with cushions. These activities allow the child to play independently while stimulating their creativity and development.

Play and Grow Together: a simple alternative for screen-free activities

For parents looking for screen-free alternatives, Play and Grow Together offers a practical and accessible solution. This online platform is specially designed to offer fun and educational activity ideas to do with your children, without needing to expose them to screens.

The activity sheets available on the platform are ready-to-use tools, covering all the essential aspects of young children's development, from motor skills to creativity, including social and emotional learning. Each sheet is clear, easy to follow, and tailored to the specific needs of each child, offering real added value for parents who want to support their children in an active and enriching way.

To give you a sneak peek of what the platform has to offer, Play and Grow Together offers a free activity sheet from each module upon registration. This allows you to discover for yourself the many possibilities of screen-free activities that you can share with your child.

In conclusion, it's time to rethink our relationship with screens, both for ourselves and for our children. Lead by example, follow the recommendations, and adopt the '4 NOs'. By doing this, we can offer our children a healthy and balanced environment. With a little creativity, availability, and the support of resources like Play and Grow Together, it is possible to restore a balance where screen-free moments become moments of discovery and shared happiness. After all, a shared smile is worth more than all the pixels in the world.