What Is The Importance of Reflection, As We Spend More Time on Screens?
From the start of the pandemic and the subsequent social distancing required to stay safe, screens have been our lifeline. And like many things in life, this has had both a positive and a negative impact.
We have been forced to rely on screens for work, school, social connection, and entertainment; all necessary parts of our lives. Whereas too much screen time is always a concern, especially for children, the current amount of time spent on computers, laptops, TV monitors, and cell phones goes well beyond anything we could have imagined, pre-COVID.
During a recent interview with Anderson Cooper on CNN, Developmental Pediatrician, Dr. Jenny Radesky, talks about the impact. Dr. Radesky, who serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Media and Communications, explains the importance of reflection - for all of us. She suggests raising the following questions as we ponder our increased use of screens:
What positive tech experiences made you feel more connected?”
FaceTime and Zoom meetings with family and friends help us feel more in touch and less isolated, and even for very young children, can improve vocabulary and strengthen ties. She points out that there is also value in what children observe when they witness adults interacting positively during these screen moments.
What tech experiences felt toxic and manipulative?
Much of what is presented in the online world is monetized and driven by profit. Targeted ads can encourage mindless consumerism. We are bombarded by advertising and interactions that are designed to keep us clicking and scrolling. And much of children’s content involves passive interaction with little opportunity for creativity and imagination.
For both parents and children, media use can be a distraction when we are bored or uncomfortable. The problem with that is that it is replacing opportunities to work through those moments in healthy ways. Kids in particular should not always have an easy fix for what they are feeling. They need to learn to recognize their feelings and figure out constructive ways of coping with them. Screen time is not designed to do that.
Additionally, time in front of a monitor or screen robs children (and adults) of time engaged in physical activity and time spent outdoors. It means children are not spending time with creative dramatics and imaginative play, building with blocks or other manipulatives, interacting with three-dimensional toys like dolls and vehicles. This should all be considered when evaluating how much screen time is too much.
So, how about it, have you thought about the plusses and minuses of screen time in your family? What will you change about the use of tech devices as we move away from social distancing and toward more normalcy?
Please weigh in as we wrap up the past year of spending inordinate amounts of time sitting in front of two-dimensional screens.
Check out the full interview with Dr. Jenny Radesky here: Pediatrician on the impact extra screen time has on our kids.
