This summer I'm doing a series on What Parent's Need to Know about *insert some type of online thing here*... because it's not just parents that need to know these things but teachers too AND if there is one thing we all know it's that online stuff changes so often it's hard to keep up (especially when you aren't even using that app/program)!
Today I'm talking about Screen Addiction
I'm sure we've all been there when we realize we've wasted the day away (okay, hopefully not the ENTIRE day) watching tv, playing on our phone, using social media, etc. In my opinion it's a real problem these days with technology so readily available.
I found this and it's available as a free download from National Online Safety
Here's 3 take aways from it:
1) Screen time can mean a loss of sleep. To help with this don't allow screens in the bedroom after a certain hour. I've found that the nights when I read an actual book vs read the news online or watch a video before bed are the nights that I get a better sleep.
2) Screen time can mean a lack of interest in other activities. Watching a video may be easier than reading a book but it lacks using your imagination. Playing hockey on tv may seem super cool but it lacks physical activity. Chatting with your friends via text may be convenient but it lacks developing different social skills. It's important to realize that for everything you replace with a screen you give up something too.
3) If you do it... they might follow. It's important to realize that kids are impressionable and look up to the different adults in their lives. If you set a rule that there will be no devices at the dinner table for your kids but you're over there checking your Facebook it won't seem fair. Whether your a parent or teacher it's important to display the behaviour that you wish to have reflected back at you.
In my opinion the most staggering statistic on that page is that 99% of kids aged 12-15 spend almost 21 hours attached to a screen a week! That`s nearly an entire day lost to the screen and in this bloggers opinion we should probably be doing something about this.
I'm sure we've all been there when we realize we've wasted the day away (okay, hopefully not the ENTIRE day) watching tv, playing on our phone, using social media, etc. In my opinion it's a real problem these days with technology so readily available.
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| What Parents Need to Know About Screen Addiction |
I found this and it's available as a free download from National Online Safety
Here's 3 take aways from it:
1) Screen time can mean a loss of sleep. To help with this don't allow screens in the bedroom after a certain hour. I've found that the nights when I read an actual book vs read the news online or watch a video before bed are the nights that I get a better sleep.
2) Screen time can mean a lack of interest in other activities. Watching a video may be easier than reading a book but it lacks using your imagination. Playing hockey on tv may seem super cool but it lacks physical activity. Chatting with your friends via text may be convenient but it lacks developing different social skills. It's important to realize that for everything you replace with a screen you give up something too.
3) If you do it... they might follow. It's important to realize that kids are impressionable and look up to the different adults in their lives. If you set a rule that there will be no devices at the dinner table for your kids but you're over there checking your Facebook it won't seem fair. Whether your a parent or teacher it's important to display the behaviour that you wish to have reflected back at you.
In my opinion the most staggering statistic on that page is that 99% of kids aged 12-15 spend almost 21 hours attached to a screen a week! That`s nearly an entire day lost to the screen and in this bloggers opinion we should probably be doing something about this.
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