As parents, we all want what is best for our children. Occasionally, however, this does not align with societal values as a whole. When trying to effectively navigate the digital age of parenting, it can be difficult to determine when to take a break from technology, much less teach our children to do the same. It is important to remember that there are many harmful effects of excessive screen time for children that we should aim to prevent as they can be detrimental to a young child’s development. We’ve outlined some of the reasons too much screen time can be bad for your children.

Developmental Issues

According to Dr. Jennifer Cross of NewYork-Presbyterian, “Research shows that talking with children in a reciprocal dialogue is extremely important for language development and social interaction. It’s that back-and-forth ‘conversation,’ sharing facial expressions and reacting to the other person — in real life, rather than ‘passive’ listening or one-way interaction with a screen — that improves language and communication skills in young children.” This means that children need real-life social interaction, away from their screens, to develop language and communication skills properly. Cross also notes that children exposed to an excessive amount of television during early childhood are more likely to do poorly on reading tests and have issues retaining attention in the classroom. Young children are in a crucial stage of language development between ages 1.5 and 3. During these crucial phases of development for young children, they are likely to learn less from ingesting media and more from interacting with their family members and/or guardians. 

Cognitive Health Issues 

If your child spends too much time on their smart device or your child is glued to their iPad, they also run the risk of developing attention problems, as well as mental health issues like depression and anxiety. This inadvertently affects your child’s ability to socialize and learn in the classroom as well as the outside world. As previously mentioned, interacting with the world around them is paramount to a child’s ability to learn and develop communication skills. 

We recommend that you check out our blog article “3 Mental Dangers of Social Media for Children” for more information on the effects of social media on young children and how it can further impact their mental health and development.

What We Can Do To Help

You don’t need an iPhone or smart device to virtually communicate with your children. In order to avoid your child getting addicted to their smart devices, you need a smart device designed for children.  So how can you keep your child safe online without the added screen time? Angel Watch is the solution. With our 4G smartwatch for kids, you can text, call, or video call with your child from anywhere without giving your child internet access or additional apps. Without the added distraction of social media, YouTube, and games, your child will be able to focus more on interacting with their teachers, peers, and family members instead of with their smart devices. Grab your Angel Watch today and get your child’s development and health back on track.