The use of devices in all areas of our lives is raising some serious concerns around the world right now. Aside from our workplaces and schools, our homes today are full of devices; we have smartphones, iPads, PS4’s, tablets, Xboxes, laptops, desktops….the list goes on. It can be really hard to police the use of these devices and set appropriate limits, especially when we are so time poor. Transitioning back from holidays to school term can also be a battle.
But is it worth the battle?
Absolutely! According to Collett Smart, a psychologist with UWS, aside from the immediate obvious benefits of children spending less time on TV and video games and therefore seeing less violent content, there are also many less obvious long term benefits. In a US study of over 1300 families, the long term benefits following 7 months of parents setting limits within their home, include:
Children were now getting more sleep
Children were getting better results in school
A positive change in Body Mass, attributed to the fact that these children were now moving around more
As well as limiting screen time, the parents involved in the study also placed restrictions on their child’s exposure to violent content. The benefits of this include:
Increased pro-social behaviour with children exhibiting more helpful and cooperative behaviours at school
Less aggressive behaviour towards their peers
If you would like to read more, please click on the link to read the full article from Generation Next:
https://www.generationnext.com.au/2014/08/parents-much-farther-reaching-effects-know/
Australian Parenting website, Raising Children, suggest the following to help your child maintain a healthy balance between family, peers, technology, school and homework:
Set rules about screen use- such as when, where and how technology can be used in your home
Aim for short screen time sessions- having a break every 30 minutes is encouraged as moving around is important for a child’s energy levels, development, sleep and overall health and wellbeing.
Prioritise physical activity - often if it is not ‘timetabled’ it doesn’t happen
Extra-curricular involvement - allowing for a chance to meet new people and develop new skills
Encourage face-to-face socialising - helps to further develop social skills
Avoid screen time before bed - watching a screen can impact on the length and quality of a child’s sleep. Teenagers need between 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
Keep devices out of rooms, especially at night - this allows for greater control of screen time as well as providing an environment conducive to sleep.
For more information you can visit the Raising Children website https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/entertainment-technology
By putting a few simple changes into place, you will make a long-term difference for your son.
We are available should you have any questions or comments, or simply want to check in with us regarding your son.
Until next time….
Liz and Liza
School Counsellors
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