Think back to summers when you were a kid. Many will recall getting up, doing a few chores, then heading outside to play, only taking a break for lunch. Your mom or dad’s call for dinner was followed by complaints from you, asking if you really had to come inside.
In an informal survey of adults about their summer memories as a child, people recalled catching fireflies, climbing trees, fishing, playing outside with friends, riding bikes, running through the sprinkler and lots of other activities that did not involve a screen. As people thought about their response to the question, usually a smile would come to their face and laughter followed as the memories replayed in their mind.
Fast forward to 2014, and most would agree that times have dramatically changed. Instead of spending time playing outside, a variety of studies indicate many children will get up and head straight to some type of screen – TV, computer, tablet. In fact, children between 8 and 10 years of age spend on average between five and seven hours playing games, watching movies or television. For teens, the number increases. This is a stark contrast to the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation that children 10 and older spend no more than two hours a day watching a screen.
Many have heard that too much screen time can lead to greater risk of children having trouble sleeping at night, experiencing attention issues as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, numerous studies have shown that, not only do children eat more while watching screens, what they eat is typically not healthy and can lead to weight gain.
While many parents are tired of this battle, it is definitely one worth fighting. When children move away from screens and interact with others, it helps them develop communication skills along with learning how to get along with others and problem solve when there is disagreement over the score of a kickball game. Play helps build a child’s imagination and enhances their ability to entertain themselves.