Mobiles have become an indispensable part of our lives. Especially since the Pandemic our worlds have rapidly shifted to the virtual world. Mobiles have become the only source of interaction and connection with the outside world, which has helped one to have a feel of sense of normalcy and sanity.
Be it attending online classes, or chatting with friends or entertainment etc – a mobile phone is a handy and an affordable tool for all such activities for kids.
As per a study conducted by the National commission for protection of child rights (NCPCR) 30.2 % of children in the age group of 8-18 years possess a smart phone and use it for various purposes, now the main purpose being online school or college.
And parents are open and obliging to buy their kids smart phones to ensure smooth learning.
But are smart phones used just for school??
Online classes account for an average of 3-4 hours per day. But children end up spending more than 3-4 hours per day on their mobile phones. Facebook/ WhatsApp/Instagram/playing games, watching videos has taken up a chunk of smart phone usage by kids. So on an average, children end up spending at least 6-7 hrs per day on their mobiles phones.
Mobile phones may be a boon but it is like a double edged sword. It has its benefits but also has ill effects. Increased screen times have taken a toll on children’s health in the following ways-
- It reduces the attention span, thus affecting academic performance
- Spending more time on mobile phones takes away time for physical activity and thus can lead to lethargy, obesity which can further escalate to other serious health concerns.
- Children may encounter cyber bullies or may come into contact with the wrong individuals on social media which can deeply affect their mental health and lead to anxiety, depression and other issues.
- Children are exposed to a world of unfiltered information through their mobile phones and this may cause kids to get carried away and share their images, or do things which is not age appropriate or things which are dangerous or detrimental to them.
- It affects children’s sleep patterns. Kids end up playing games, watching videos or talking to friends late into the night disrupting their sleep wake times.
- Excess mobile use may affect the eyes and cause eye strain, dry eyes, headaches, myopia or poor vision in children.
- Blue light emitted by mobile screens can cause eye damage.
- Spending long hours on the mobile in improper body postures may cause muscles aches and pains.
- Children may not develop adequate socializing skills and that can affect their confidence. 10. Outdoor games and physical activity gets replaced by mobile phone usage
Tips for safe mobile phone usage for children and avoiding its side effects-
- Monitor the screen time and encourage kids to reduce their screen time by rewarding them.
- Set rules for mobile phone usage during study hours, eating and sleeping.
- Encourage kids to develop hobbies and indulge in sports and outdoor activities.
- Ask the child to switch off their phones an hour before going to bed.
- Avoid letting kids less than 8 yrs of age use mobile phones other than for study purposes under adult supervision.
- Encourage kids to do eye exercises 2 – 3 times a day.
- Make sure they keep mobiles at a distance of atleast 15 inches
- Increasing font size on mobile phone can help reduce eye strain.
- After long hours of exposure to screens, cotton pads soaked in rose water or cold milk or cucumber slices can be placed on their eyes for 10- 15 minutes which relaxes and cools the eyes.
- Ask them to wash their eyes with cool water 2-3 times a day
- Make them follow the 20-20-20 eye rule, every 20 minutes spent using a screen; you should try to look away at something that is 20 feet away from you for a total of 20 seconds.
- Encourage kids to practice yoga, pranayama for 20 minutes daily.
- Kids can practice Trataka technique under the guidance of a Yoga practitioner. This will not only benefit their eyes but also help improve concentration and focus.
- Turn off wifi an hour before sleep time.
- Feed them a balanced diet with adequate quantity of greens, vegetables and protein.
- Include fruits in the diet such as Amla, oranges and berries.
- Educate your kids about the dangers of social media and supervise their social media activity.
- Create a positive and safe atmosphere where in kids can share their feelings and experiences and help them work on it together.
Let mobiles phones be a healthy part of your child’s life reaping only the benefits out of it.
