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Hello everyone, I know lots of people who are very attached to their mobile phones that they sleep with them on their bed or even under their pillow. By the way, these guys are adults and I am pretty sure that they have heard about the dangers of electromagnetic radiation whenever these devices are on; this means sleeping with their phone nearby increases their exposure all night long. However, according to a recent Childwise survey conducted among youngsters in the UK (aged 5 to 16 years old), 57% of them said that they sleep with their mobile phone beside their bed. I was wondering if it is related to the fact that we (adults) spend most of our waking hours staring at screens.
Family habits????
But I think that it just raised a red flag about family habits, I meant our children are always watching what we do. As Amy Morin, (Psychotherapist - VeryWellFamily) said , our kids see how we handle different situations, how we take care of the environment, also they watch how we treat other people; In some way, they are little copy machines, to use another metaphor, they soak in all that information like little sponges. Even when we think our children aren't paying attention, it's essential to be a positive role model for them. I know that in the digital age, due to the technology dependence or busy routines as working parents, sometimes it is "technically unavoidable" to interrupt the flow of home life, thus, quality family time is more important than ever.
But why is screen time before bed is bad for children?
According to The SleepFoundation, the truth is, using electronic devices before bedtime can be physiologically and psychologically stimulating in ways that can adversely affect our sleep. Also, there are studies that show that being exposed to the blue-and-white light given off by smartphones at night prevents our brains from releasing melatonin, a hormone that tells our bodies it's nighttime.
What can we do to help them? A possible alternative is a "structured evening ritual" - the SleepFoundation specialists say that being in an organized environment will help your children feel relaxed and in control. Try setting the curfew at two hours before bed, one hour before bed, or even 30 minutes before bed—the earlier in the evening, the better, but whatever feels realistic. My suggestion: reading a printed book under lamplight (as opposed to bright overhead lighting) is a great choice; Or also a lovely bedtime story, which I love to read to my little one! Other important considerations: Sarah Loughran, Research Fellow, University of Wollongong explains that Screen time in the hours directly prior to sleep is problematic in a number of ways other than just displacing the bed and sleep times of children and adolescents.
Less physical activities: Longer screen times could affect children's sleep by reducing the time spent doing other activities, such as exercises. and this kind of activity may be beneficial for sleep and sleep regulation, in general lines is a circle effect. Brain development: in the article " Irregular bedtimes linked to kids' behavioral problems" posted by MedicalNewsToday explain that a study, published in the journal Pediatrics, found that irregular bedtimes could disrupt natural body rhythms and cause sleep deprivation, undermining brain maturation and the ability to regulate certain behaviours.
For us as parents, we know that nowadays, smartphones and other digital devices are fully integrated into our daily lives; thus it is an undeniable fact that the possibilities of technology function as pocket-sized computers are countless. But sometimes, we might unknowingly model a few unhealthy behaviours for our children in relation to digital habits.
Besides these recent research has suggested that screen time could cause long-term Physiological and Psychological Effects among youngsters, I think that we have to bear in mind is that screen time doesn't replace family time. Even if we are working, answering emails, and doing productive things, we are still setting an example for our kids.
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References: To see the sources of this article, please click on each link within the text. See you, guys!
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