The Digital Dilemma: The Hidden Impact of Screen Time on Children's Well-Being

I get it -- you are busy. You have to juggle your work, family, friends, and a multitude of other responsibilities. Life can get hectic. Sometimes it is just easier to let your children watch their favorite movie or TV show or play video games.

As technology continues to advance and become a part of every aspect of our daily lives, children are spending more and more time indoors and on electronic devices. While these can provide entertainment and education, the long-term effects on children's mental, physical, and social health can be detrimental.

On the surface, this may seem harmless but over time, it can shape the way your child perceives and interacts with the world.

So what can be done? How can we entertain our children without reliance on technologies? Let's start with how bad can bad really get.

Impact on Mental Health

• Linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression and other mental health problems. Why? Screen time can disrupt sleep, which is important for regulating mood and emotions. Excessive screen time can lead to social isolation and lack of face-to-face interaction with others.
• Children who spend more than 2 hrs per day are more likely to have problems with attention and hyperactivity, which can lead to difficulties in school and other areas of life. Why? Screen time can overstimulate the brain, making it difficult to focus on other tasks.
• Can lead to a decrease in cognitive skills such as memory, attention and language development. Why? Screen time can interfere with the development of neural pathways in the brain that are important for these skills.

Impact on Physical Health

• Linked to a higher risk of obesity and other weight-related health problems in children and adolescents. Why? Screen time is often associated with a sedentary lifestyle and snacking on high-calorie foods while using screens. (Once you pop, you can't stop)
• Can disrupt sleep patterns and negatively affect the quality of sleep. Why? Blue light from screens can lead to fatigue and other physical health problems such as headaches and eye strain. (Bye perfect 20-20 vision)
• Can lead to poor posture and musculoskeletal problems such as back and neck pain. Why? You become one with the chair and not aware of how you are sitting. Use your muscles or lose it. Think about how your neck is when you are looking down on your phones all day...

Impact on Social Health

• Can lead to difficulties in forming relationships and socializing with others. Why? When you are indoors and on your screen all day, you lose touch with reality and society. You become socially isolated and lack face-to-face interaction with others. These things are important for mental and emotional health.
• Can lead to low self-esteem and other mental problems. Why?Social media has been linked to increased rates of cyberbullying and negative body image.
• Similar to the first bullet, it may be harder to develop social skills such as empathy and understanding of others' perspectives. Why? You need some level of face-to-face interaction to develop these skills.

How Can Outdoors Really Benefit My Children?

• Spending time outdoors exposes children to sunlight, which is the best source of Vitamin D (essential for strong bones, healthy immune system, and other benefits).
• Fresh air can improve lung function and help reduce the risk of respiratory problems.
• Exposure to natural light and fresh air can help regulate sleep patterns and improve overall sleep quality.
• Studies suggest that outdoor play can improve focus, attention, and reduce symptoms of ADHD.
• Outdoor play can enhance social development in children - think of all the social skills they are picking up such as communication, cooperation, and conflict resolution.
• Exposure to nature can increase imagination and creative problem-solving abilities in children. I remember when I built my own tent indoors with blankets and sheets -- guess you can also learn how to be resourceful too.
• Spending time in nature can improve mood, reduce stress, and boost self-esteem in children. There is just something about being outside that is calming (maybe not in NY traffic).

I can honestly go on and on with the benefits of spending time outdoors. It is a great passion of mine. Technology is great - it opens a host of opportunities and content to learn and experience. However, it can't ever take away from the importance of being outside. Sorry, metaverse -- you can't replace our much needed face-to-face interactions.

Now that we have a baseline understanding of the hidden cost of screen time and the benefits of outdoor fun -- what is the best way we can incorporate more outdoor play in our busy lives?

Luckily for you, Amplify Your Home is expanding our collection to include a wide range of outdoor play for all ages -- playhouses, playsets, swingsets, sandboxes, trampolines -- and I haven't forgotten about the adults! We will research for outdoor games, sports, and "man" caves/she-sheds.

Next blog will be about the differences between these outdoor plays and the pros and cons of each. Most importantly, how to pick the right one for your needs. It is about high-quality at the end of the day. High price does not equal high-quality!