Originally published by the Huffington Post this 2014 article highlights just a few reasons why children should limit their screen time (TV, handheld devices, ect…) The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics state infants aged 0-2 years should not have any exposure to technology, 3-5 years be restricted to one hour per day, and 6-18 years restricted to 2 hours per day.
This article addresses key issues that may be important for an educator to familiarize his/herself with before integrating too much screen time in their classroom. For example; technology overuse is implicated as a causal factor in rising rates of child depression, anxiety, attachment disorder, attention deficit, autism, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and problematic child behaviour. (Bristol University 2010, Mentzoni 2011, Shin 2011, Liberatore 2011, Robinson 2008) In May of 2011, the World Health Organization classified cellphones (and other wireless devices) as a category 2B risk (possible carcinogen) due to radiation emission.
I think we would be doing our students a dis-service by giving them unlimited time on devices. I mean, it has taken my Omi, who is 89, to develop more than proficient skills on her ipad in less than half a hour. Our children will not be left behind if technology isn’t integrated in to our schools 100%. It’s important for everyone to to limit screen time at any age, and we will always have podcasts or audio books as an amazing alternative.