The Debate: Is a total ban on screens for small children the answer?

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New research shows that toddlers who are exposed to screens communicate less with caregivers. But is delaying access to technology feasible?

Fine Gael’s choice to replace a property-owning democracy with a rent-paying one has unsettled a generationChildren are not born with the innate ability to self-regulate; this is something that develops over time as they learn. Having a really clear strategy on limiting screen time in infancy can help them to develop healthy digital boundaries as they grow and mature.

It is compounded by the fact that the apps children use are often designed to keep the user engaged for as long as possible. Our data and attention translate into the billions of euros of profit that big tech companies are making off the back of their users. I’m sure I’m not alone in finding it fascinating how many Silicon Valley CEOs favour keeping their children away from devices for as long as possible.

If your children are still young, then make the most of this opportunity to really set the tone and the boundaries. Talk to other parents with children of a similar age as it is all so much easier if you have a community of support around you. Alongside setting healthy boundaries, we need to focus on developing children’s digital skills so that when they do get that more independent use and access, they are ready for it.

A recent report suggesting that “technoference” is real, and revealing the negative impact of screen time on the parent-child dynamic and language development, won’t have done anything to help ease the guilt of exhausted and overwrought parents.

Many parents are still trying to claw back the amount of time that children spend online. Habits formed are difficult to break, as us adults know only too well. And for children who spent far more of their day on screens than we would ever have wanted them to, turning things around is no mean feat. Removing screens altogether is an unrealistic goal. Reasonable usage rather than blanket bans is more appropriate for the times we live in now.

A new study revealed that almost half of parents don’t take time off work while minding their children. With affordability, availability and suitability all big issues in the childcare conundrum, parents often have no choice but to use screens as a babysitter, whether they want to or not.

Source: Tech Daily Report (techdailyreport.net)

 

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