The Health Impact of Spending Too Much Time on Screen Media

Screen watching is used for entertainment purposes and also for learning processes. It is an activity that almost everyone enjoys participating in and more so the children. The world we are living has in the recent past become virtual, and nearly every home uses one type of screen or more. Most children have screens at their disposal ranging from television screens, computers, tablets to Smartphone and video games and the surprising truth is that even toddlers spend some time staring at the screen for soothing and entertainment purposes. Recent studies have shown that children are spending more time with screen media than ever before (Christakis et al., 2013). For this reason, many experts have suggested that the screen time should be monitored and regulated by parents and guardians. The underlying reasons are risks of developing obesity, behavioral problems, irregular sleep patterns and impaired academic performance

Increased screen time for children increases the risk of becoming overweight and obese. This is attributed to a combination of poor eating habits, reduced physical activity and exposure to television advertisement (Cairns, Angus, & Hastings, 2009; Liang, Kuhle, & Veugelers, 2457-2463). Children are likely to engage in eating unhealthy foods like snacks and soft drinks and avoid eating healthy fruits and vegetable because television watching caused distraction and decreased awareness of the kind of food being consumed. Secondly excessive TV watching is passive activity that prevents burning off excess calories hence the increase in weight. Exposure to TV advertisement influences food preference for children. The advertised foods are usually processed foods that are unhealthy. When a child spots a food advert that is pleasing to the eye, then he/she will get the food to find out how it tastes, and it eventually becomes a habit. When children fail to balance physical activity and limited screen time there is a three to four times likelihood of becoming overweight compared to children who are physically active (Laurson et al., 2008). Additionally a research article by Strasburg (2011) has shown that for each additional hour of television watching by children at age five, the risk of adult obesity increases by 7%. An excess intake of 50kcal per day results to a weight increase of five pounds per year (Strasburg, 2011).

The second reason for the need to regulate screen time for children is that it leads to irregular sleeping patterns. This mostly happens when parents or a guardian responsible for a child fails to lay down rules for sleep time and more specifically for children with a television in their bedrooms and or video games (Garrison et al., 2011). Without limitation, the child is most likely to sleep beyond the required time and with time becomes a habit and routine. This will eventually impact on the sleeping pattern and troubles of falling asleep and sleep loss that leads to fatigue and lack of concentration. According to a research article by Garrison et al. (2011), on average children consume 72.9 minutes on media screen every day with 14.1 minutes happening after 7:00 in the evening. In the study, eighteen parents reported at least one sleep problem in children having a television in their bedrooms and the model used showed that with each additional hour of television in the evening was associated with a sleep problem.

Screen time limitation is essential to prevent the development of behavioral problems in children. Elementary children who spend more than two hours a day watching computer games or television are more likely to develop attention, emotional violence and social health problems. An article by Mayo Clinic staff (2015) indicated that exposure to video games is linked to attention problems in children and excessive watching of television at the age of four is connected with bullying at the age of six. However another article by Parkes, Alison, et al., (2013) revealed that television is watching for more than three hours at the age of five results to increase in conduct problems at the age of seven but not video or electronic games playing and watching. Violence in children is likely to develop due to some of the contents that children watch television programs and video games. Programs that are not child-sensitive and regulated display violent activities that are mostly for adults. Since children especially at the preschool level are developing and tend to emulate and imitate what they see in their surroundings, screen limitation is required. Aggression and prosocial behaviors shown on screens may be adopted, and the child might think that violence is a way of life and a normal way to solving disputes (Christakis et al., 2013).

For children to improve their academic performance, screen time has to be limited. An increase in screen time reduces the time for studying and concentration in class. Children with a television in their bedrooms are more likely to perform worse on tests than those who do not have a television in their bedrooms. This means that all they focus on is television programs without sparing time for studying. With the reduced physical activity brought about by increased screen use, the academic performance for children is likely to suffer more. Physical activity has been linked to improvement in academic achievements because it keeps a child focused and mentally active. Aguilar, Macarena M., et al. (2015) in their research article they found that academic attainment is associated with higher cardiorespiratory fitness level but increased screen time impairs academic achievements.

For screen limitation to be, effective parents and guardians should come up with family rules that regulate screen time spending. The rules should specify the periods of watching television or playing video games and retiring to bed. A parent has to make sure that he/she is strict and explain the reasons for regulating screen time. Paying attention to how the child acts during and after screen watching helps know if the child’s behavior is changing. This calls for monitoring of television program and video game content. A television program that is appropriate for an eight-year-old is not appropriate for a three-year-old. Parents should use their judgment to know what types of programs are right for each age group. The parent can also consult media reviews, but they should be cautious because some television programs rate their programs, for instance, PG-13 (parental guidance for thirteen-year-olds) but it does not mean that all the content is appropriate, or the13-year-olds are ready to see the content (greatschools.org).

Additionally parents may offer guidance to children by using technology to control the media. Screen devices like DVDs and videotapes programs are easy to control and stop whatever the child is watching than switching a television off. A parent can stop a program and explain to the child that whatever pictures or scene is displayed is wrong and that it is not appropriate for him/her to watch. This helps, especially if the content is for adult or violence. Family screen viewing times may also be scheduled at least once a week and us the time to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of prolonged screen time and program content that are age appropriate (greateschools.org). Since television disrupts a child’s sleeping patterns and academic achievements, parents should make sure that television is not placed in a child’s bedroom. It is easier to exercise control when the child is within a parent’s view. Televisions, video games, and computers should be placed in a common place where the parent keeps watch. If a parent is worried that the child will secretly use the devices in his or her absence, then they can lock the room that the devices are available or just talk to the child to obey the set rules for their benefits.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the only established organization that makes recommendations on screen time usage, provides guidelines that put limits on screen use and media exposure. AAP recommends two hours per day for children older than two years and no exposure to screens for children under the age of two years. However, AAP will issue new recommendations in 2016 emphasizing that not all screen times be the same (commonsensemedia.org) for instance watching television is not the same as video-chatting with a beloved one who is far away. Also, some studies have revealed that the recommended two hours was established when there was growing concerns of the effect of television on children because it interfered with time spent for playing outside with friends, time to engage the child’s imagination and creativity. However, electronics are nowadays used to present learning materials. Therefore, the screen time for children above two years should be revised to allow time to experience the benefits of electronic use in disseminating academic knowledge.

The responsibility of making sure that screen time is limited is a collective responsibility for both the parents and the government. Children are spending more time with the screen than ever before and the amount of time that children should be allowed to use per day is debatable. However, the key is to limit how often they use the screens and the quality of whatever they are watching. Initially screen time was attributed to television only but with advancement in communication technology in the media industry, has led to a view of screen time differently. Screen time includes the passive time consumption by watching television and listening to music, interactive time usage with video games and browsing the Internet; communication through video-chatting by using computers and smartphones and iPhones, tablets and iPads that are also used to access the internet. It is good to notice that screen use is not bad but the excessive use of the screen time requires limitation or regulation.

Parents are the sole promoters of making sure that screen time is limited for children. Many stakeholders will make recommendations and guidelines, but it is the work of parents and guardians to see that the set rules in the family regarding screen time usage are adhered to without fail. This is the only certain way of making sure that children are free from obesity risks, poor school grades, and risks of adopting weird behaviors together with poor sleep patterns. Policy makers such as AAP have the main duty of making sure that more guidelines are set to guide parents and health professionals like pediatricians. The society needs healthy children who will grow up to be responsible adults and lead the next generation.