Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Kids under 9 spend more than 2 hours a day on screens, report shows
Watching TV too long was one of the major concerns parents used to have until only a decade ago. Now, only a few parents do, if any. They are or should be, much more concerned about smaller but mobile devices, smartphones and tablets.
New studies have found that most of the young kids in the US have a mobile device and spend hours staring at it. This is a double-edged sword for parents. While they can do their own things while their kids are doing something online, they lose the chance to interact with their children at a time when young kids should read or be read, or play or talk with their parents.
They also report that there is a significant gap in the time those children spend on their screens between those of lower-income and higher-income families. Children of lower-income homes spend considerably more time on watching and playing with screen media than those of higher-income families. This is also linked with their parents’ education level.
It’s also worrisome because children are becoming obsessed by mobile screens as more intriguing apps and devices, such as augmented and virtual reality and smart toys, are getting popular.
But remember, some time ago, many parents said to their kids, “Stop watching TV and read a book.” Now they may say, “Stop staring at our mobile phone. Let’s watch TV together.”
Whichever the case might be, children won’t like to be told what to do.
Enjoy reading the article and think what appropriate digital manners are for young children.
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