Parents didn’t grow up with cell phones, iPads, or the internet. Parents played outside with friends riding their bikes, drawing with chalk on the sidewalk, or even going to the park. As a child, I couldn’t leave the house fast enough. I would be riding my bike around the neighborhood and calling on my friends to come outside to play. My parents never called on me or wondered where I was; I was only reminded to return before the streetlights came on as I ran out the door. My parents always knew I would come home if hungry, tired, or hurt.
Today, the reality is science and technology have evolved and continue to evolve. Almost every child has an electronic device or has access to a device. It has become a tool for parenting. Our kids cry or have a loud outburst; we give them our phones. They instantly calm down and are mesmerized by a cartoon show on YouTube. The parents are happy, and the child is also happy. But how is this impacting the child? What are we teaching our children when we reward them for bad behavior?
I first noticed my three young girls were becoming increasingly frustrated and irritable in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic. A time when they were home from school due to government restrictions, and the only connection they had to the outside world was virtually through their tablets. Even school was online. My girls would be online from 8:00 am until 3:30 pm. Then, without thinking or doing anything else, they would be on their tablets until bedtime. Why? How can a person be so attached, so fixated?
Research says that some children cannot control their internet use. Repetitive, compulsive use has been coined as “internet addiction disorder” by several medical physicians and researchers. One of the main signs of internet addiction disorder is difficulty getting children off a screen without a fight. Children will often become aggressive, irritable, and impulsive if the tablet is taken away. Why? How do children change so quickly from being calm and happy watching on their tablet to what seems to be an out-of-control, irrational child yelling and crying at the top of their lungs? I will tell you. When our children are engaged and excited by what they see on the tablet screen, this triggers dopamine release. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter in the brain that signals us to feel-good. So, screen time becomes associated with feeling good over time, which correlates with increased dopamine levels. The problem becomes when the game, show, or interaction goes away, and so does the dopamine rush, which can cause irritability and anger.
So, even as parents, we think we are rewarding our children by allowing them the instant gratification of screen time to help them deal with their outbursts, which is harming them. This instant gratification prevents children from developing coping skills or dealing with emotions and frustrations. Instead, they are driven by dopamine levels that they cannot control. We as parents need to give our children control back and harness their irrational behavior to avoid internet overuse that could and can lead to internet addiction disorder. Identifying early signs and symptoms of inappropriate behavior that are out of proportion to the actual situation can help identify potential undiagnosed psychiatric conditions or possible disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder, attention deficit disorder, or major depressive disorder. Internet addiction disorder can mask other psychological problems in young children, leading to more severe mental issues later in life. This is why parents must intervene early and, if they cannot correct their child’s behavior, seek professional help. Professional help can provide parents and children with the tools necessary to help them cope, function and regulate their mood to avoid behavioral concerns at home and school.
So, as parents, it is crucial to monitor your child’s screen time, as studies have shown that too much screen time has increased mental health problems, as listed above. Parents can start by monitoring how much screen time their children have and what type of programs they watch. Limiting screen time to less than 1 hour per day during school days and less than 3 hours on weekends can help children learn to self-regulate their emotions, as dopamine levels will not be proportionately sky high. Let’s give our children the right tools to lead healthy life physically and mentally.
https://shrinkbox.org/2023/08/...