Screen Time and Children
The typical answer people tell themselves or others when they, as isolated observers, are able to realize all the ongoing changes when it comes to children and electronic media is, “It is the 21th Century.” Screen time refers to the amount of time spent in Electronic Media, it includes: TV’s, computers, video consoles, tablets, and smartphones. Nowadays, people are all surrounded by screens, they can be anywhere and at any time. Therefore, it has become a virtual environment and, just as any other environment, children can be exposed to it. Screen time is an inevitable reality in modern childhood. The three main causes of screen time and children are parents using media as an important tool to help them manage their household and keep their kids entertained, a society that believes in technology for educational purposes, and today’s families dependence on communication and information. On the other hand, effects include loss of social skills and emotional intelligence, improvement in learning areas, and weaker relationships.
First, the primary cause of children being exposed to screens is parents using media to manage their household and keep their kids entertained. In a culture that glorifies being busy and independent, there are parents that try to occupy their children with any possible activity; the different resources provided by Electronic Media have made the path easier. A research made by the American Academy of Pediatrics says that,