Managing Screen Time and Gaming Addiction: The Role of Coding in Supporting Your Child
Recent statistics show that nearly 50% of all children aged 8 and under own a tablet and spend, on average, 2.25 hours each day in front of a screen.
What’s Happening to Children’s Brains?
Early results from studies indicate that children who engage in screen-time activities for more than two hours per day perform poorly on thinking and language tests. Furthermore, it has been found that some children who watch screens for more than seven hours daily suffer from thinning of the cortex, the part of the brain associated with critical thinking and reasoning.
Teachers increasingly report that students show up at school exhausted and sleep-deprived after spending nights scrolling social media feeds and playing online games.
The Dangers of Excessive Screen Time for Children
Parents must take action to restrict how much time their children spend online each day. It’s essential to ensure that children have enough time for social interactions, reading, homework, exercise, and extracurricular activities. Otherwise, the following harmful impacts of excessive screen usage can occur:
1. Strained Eyes and Body
Prolonged screen time can lead to eye strain, dryness, and other visual problems, as well as poor posture, resulting in neck and shoulder stiffness.
2. Sleep Deprivation
The blue light emitted by screens inhibits melatonin production, disrupting sleep patterns. This means that increased screen time directly correlates with reduced sleep quality.
3. Increased Chance of Obesity
Digital devices promote a sedentary lifestyle, leading to a lack of physical activity and, subsequently, weight gain.
4. Risk of Chronic Health Diseases
Prolonged sitting and inactivity can raise health concerns like obesity, increasing the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer.
5. Loss of Cognitive Ability
Excessive screen time can shrink grey and white matter in the brain, negatively affecting cognitive functions such as focus, memory, and impulse control.
6. Poor Social Skills
Focusing on screens can lead to missed opportunities for social interactions, hindering the development of essential social skills.
7. Lack of Emotional Judgment
Excessive exposure to screens can impair a child’s ability to recognize and process emotions, desensitizing them to violent content.
8. Delayed Learning
Young children learn by exploring their environment and observing others. Excessive screen time can create a "tunnel vision," impeding their overall development.
9. Addiction
Screen time can lead to addiction due to the dopamine rush from using digital devices, creating a cycle of dependency.
The Solution to This Problem
While teachers express concern about increased screen time, they recognize that technology is an integral part of modern life. It’s essential to change how we approach screen use. By creatively integrating technology into education, we can help children develop essential digital literacy skills through safe, creative, and effective use.
One of the finest ways to educate children about technology is by teaching them to code. Coding promotes healthy screen time and enhances learning abilities across the school curriculum.
Advantages of Coding
While coding is often associated with job prospects, the skill also fosters other crucial capabilities for children:
- Problem-Solving: Children develop problem-solving skills as they find various ways to tackle challenges in coding.
- Creativity: Coding allows children to create games and interactive projects, fostering creativity.
- Teamwork: Collaborative coding projects encourage teamwork and communication skills.
- Presentation Skills: Presenting coding projects builds confidence and the ability to convey complex ideas simply.
- Empathy: Developing apps helps children understand user experience and the importance of design and function.
- Fun and Satisfaction: Coding is not just logical; it’s enjoyable, allowing children to create their apps, websites, and games!
Encourage your children to become creators instead of passive consumers of media. When selecting a coding program, consider your child’s age, cognitive skills, and desired outcomes.Skill Samurai - Coding & STEM Academywww.skillsamurai.com.au
At Skill Samurai, we offer Coding & STEM education in areas such as:
- After School Coding Classes
- Pre-K School Readiness Programs
- School Holiday Programs & Camps
- School Incursions
- Industry Recognized Career Paths & Certifications (Launching 2023)
- Birthday Parties
Learn Scratch, Python, Java, Lua, HTML, and more at Skill Samurai Learning Centres.
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Debunking 10 Common Myths About Coding for Kids in Auckland
Coding for Kids in Auckland: Unleashing Potential Through Fun Learning