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5 Reasons to Limit Your Child's Exposure to Tech Gadgets

You can imagine how unpopular Pediatric occupational therapist, Cris Rowan, was when she made a plea for a ban of all handheld devices in children under 12. Of course, this had parents angered, but there are many health reasons why we should limit how much time our children spend with handheld devices, and in front of the screen. Here are just a few to consider.

Exercise is Needed for Better Brains

Too much time with technology causes children to not get enough exercise. Lack of exercise is not only bad for their bodies, but it also hurts how their brains function and develop. In fact, more exercise and less use of tech devices can help improve grades and reduce behavior problems.

Too Much Radiation

We have all heard that cell phones can emit radiation. Radiation exposure has been linked to cancer, and while there are no hard studies, the American Cancer Society does recommend limiting cell phone use, especially in young children. 

Toddler’s Development at Risk

One set of research found that toddlers aged two through three who played excessively with tech gadgets had negative affects to their cognitive development. At this age, children need to learn how to develop motor skills and visual and spatial skills. These skills are learned through gadget-free playtime, not through an app or computer game.

Eye Strain Is More Common

More and more children are experiencing eye strain from staring at a screen for too long. This can lead to blurry vision, eye fatigue, focus issues, and even double vision. Remember, your child is still developing, even in their eye sight. Therefore, it is best to limit screen time to ensure their eyes develop and stay healthy.

Poor Posture

Handheld tablets also promote poor posture in children. They are spending too much time hunched over and looking down at a screen. Kids are even spending more time lying on the couch or floor hunched over the screens. Poor posture can cause subluxations, or misalignments in the child’s spine, which can cause other health or pain issues. Poor posture is even more of a problem for tweens and teens, since they are more susceptible to back pain and back problems developing that will follow them later on in life.

There are many health and social reasons to limit your child’s exposure to all things tech related. Of course, they are nice to keep kids entertained, but too much screen time can damage their health and social skills beyond repair.

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Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Vincent Brown

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