How Many Hours of Ideal Child Time Use Gadgets Every Day?
Maybe Mother and Father used to experience watch watching television (TV), while the old m search for ways to limit watch time. S with the technological changes and developments, TV shows are no longer a major threat but b Different types of gadgets or devices equipped with internet access.
Gadget access should still be restricted, especially for children. But, how long is the ideal time for children to access the gadget every day? Then if overkill, what's the hell impact that might arise? Let's find out.
Suggested Duration
Mother, experts suggest the maximum time a child accessing the gadget is 1-2 hours per day. However, this restriction must also be adjusted to the child's age:
- Children under 2 years of age are advised in no way given access to the gadget. If required, children over 1.5 years of age can access the gadget for no more than an hour per day accompanied by parents.
- 2-5 year olds are advised to access the gadget for only 1 hour per day, preferably a quality program.
- For children age 6 and older, we recommend setting a custom duration mutually agreed upon. For example, a child can only access gadgets on weekends or a maximum of 2 hours per day.
What Mother and Father need to emphasize, when accessing this gadget is not just to access the phone or tablet, but also includes the time to watch TV and use the computer .
Why Restricted?
Mother, according to the study, gadget addiction turns out to cause permanent disruption to a developing child's brain. This possibility will affect the child's ability to concentrate, focus, build vocabulary, even to understand the behavior and ability to communicate with others.
Here's due to gadget addiction that can happen to a child:
- Cognitive developmental disorder
Research finds that the possibility of cognitive development of children becomes delayed when children are too old to access electronic media. Especially at the age of 1-3 years, the child's brain is very sensitive to the surrounding environment and growing very rapidly. All the changes that occur in this critical period will be a permanent foundation for the further development of brain function.
- Excessive stimuli
The speed of changing images or content on gadget screens and stimuli that make them tap their fingers repeatedly onto the screen is actually the kind of stimulation their brain does not need in their early development.>
- lazy thinking
Unlike opening a page when Mother reads a fairy tale from a book that makes a child imagine, the video display in the gadget will only make the child merely follow the audiovisual movement. This can make them more lazy to think because of the weakness of cognitive muscle.
- Being overweight due to lack of movement
Too much sitting and rarely moving because of using too many gadgets, possibly can make the child fat or lack of rest. It could be that children sit playing gadgets inside the house, while other kids play and interact outside the house.
- Certain limbs hurt
Too often play game can make a child's hand ill. This is because when playing games, children repeatedly push the same button so that it can make the wrist and finger pain in the long term. In addition they can also experience neck pain, headache, and dry eyes.
- Possible behavior changes
In addition to being difficult to focus for a long time, research has found that using gadgets is also risky to make children more aggressive, to the point of aggravating ADHD.
For older children, there is the possibility that children are stressed and feel inferior, or even deep, when looking at social media and comparing themselves to the lives of others that seem more fun. Seeing the various possible disruptions or ill effects, we recommend that gadget access is restricted to children.
Tips on Restricting Gadget Usage in Children
In addition to the possible negative effects that may arise, various gadget apps and TV shows actually also have educational benefits. Some children even learn certain skills, such as English from TV, or math from mobile apps. The key is to manage how children can access their gadgets for a limited time for maximum benefits.
Some of the following ways can Mother and Dad try on a child at home:
- Thoroughly select
Mother can select multiple games and apps that allow children to learn to read, count, or other useful things. In addition to try it first, Bunda can also read reviews from other users before downloading. Although not always, but paid applications are usually better quality than free. Mothers also need to remember, apps are often not created according to curriculum or education experts.
- Place electronic items in a shared space
Putting the computer and TV in the room is more likely to interrupt the break. Instead of placing a TV and computer or laptop in a child's room, it is better to place it in a common room that allows Mother to monitor what the child is watching or playing.
- Take a pause
When using the gadget, take the child to take a pause for at least 20 minutes.
- Create a schedule
Create rules and schedules that require the family Mother to escape from the gadget. For example at dinner together, or an hour before bed. Even Mother can also set up one day free gadgets, such as on Sundays, by traveling a family.
- Apps to monitor
Mother can use apps that can monitor child activity on phone.
Preferably, avoid giving gadgets that are self-directed to your child's own. In addition, take your Mother and Father time to do other activities instead of playing the gadget. Help your child to find fun activities, like swimming, drawing, or playing a bike.
It is no less important, many parents also often access their gadgets while with family. This can make children demand the same. Well, if you want Little to limit the time to access the gadget, Mother and Father also need to discipline themselves to put the phone and turn off the TV at certain moments that have been agreed upon. Let's make sure all family members are not over-accessing gadgets and television.