Picture your child sitting there engrossed in their electronics, disobeying every word you say, and not responding to any discipline. This is an unfortunate reality for many parents worldwide. With the advent of tablets like the iPad, it is apparent that children now spend a significant portion of their time in front of electronic devices. As a trade-off for spending more time with electronics, children often lose interest in outdoor activities. What makes these devices so addictive and damaging to children’s minds?

“On average, children ages 8-12 in the United States spend 4-6 hours a day watching or using screens, and teens spend up to 9 hours,” said the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, a nonprofit professional association dedicated to facilitating psychiatric care for children and adolescents. 

Screen use can prevent children from learning essential skills, including basic math and English, young sports development, in-person social interaction, and brain development. Unfortunately, these effects are most evident in young people, who cannot function without electronics, experience withdrawal symptoms, and lack knowledge of essential functions.

Consider how much you’ve grown in intelligence from age 3 to now – a significant difference, right? A substantial part of learning involves understanding how to interact with the environment around you. With an electronic device being the primary environment for a child, this significantly hinders development. 

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association of Pediatrics, a collective of pediatric doctors covering all issues concerning pediatrics, found that using a validated screening tool, 1-year-olds exposed to more than four hours of screen time daily showed delays in communication and problem-solving at ages 2 and 4.

With children now showing difficulties in communication and problem-solving, this presents an avoidable obstacle to growth. But what are some possible solutions?

While there may not be a concrete answer, all children must be treated as individuals due to their unique character differences. They all require an individual solution. Technology constantly evolves, and learning to adapt is crucial.