Find out the risks that excessive screen stimulation poses for children

According to experts, excessive use of the screen compromises child development, socialization and school learning

Increasingly exposed to the use of all types of screens, children and adolescents are subject to hyper-stimulation which can have immediate and long-term consequences on cognitive and emotional development. For the educational psychologist of the Colégio Positivo, Karoline Keller, the excessive use of screens from early childhood compromises or even replaces fundamental phases and practices of the child’s development cycle.

“Consuming screens for longer than recommended tends to replace activities such as play, face-to-face conversations, physical contact and socialization practices, which are of great importance for the full development of the child,” he explains Caroline.

Complementing this reasoning, the Early Childhood Education coordinator of the Colégio Positivo, Professor Kaline Mazur, explains that the child who is in front of a screen receives an enormous amount of stimuli that can hardly be matched by other activities.

“This is exactly why screens are so easily addictive. They provide so much stimulation that no other activity can compete. Dopamine production in a child’s brain when he is in front of a screen peaks. When the child walks away from the screen to the screen, the same level of dopamine is hardly reached in any other practice. From that moment on, the child begins to find everything less interesting, becomes discouraged, has difficulty concentrating and is often anxious or irritated. The screen provides a pleasure It becomes difficult to compare with other activities. For example, you invite the child to play ball and he doesn’t want to, he thinks it’s boring,” warns Kaline.

Anxiety and excessive frustration

Kaline also explains that this excess of stimuli can generate anxiety and frustration in the child.

“There is so much colour, music and action on the screen that when the child turns away, he wants the real world to move as fast and with the same intensity of stimulation as the virtual world. For example, if the child is looking at a drawing and, suddenly, leaves the television and finds a mobile or some other toy in the room, he realizes that this toy does not offer the same amount of stimuli as the television drawing. This change generates frustration and anxiety. child still is unable to differentiate the real world from the digital one, which always results in unrealistic expectations in the minds of the little ones”.

busy socializing

Based on experiences and observations in the school environment, Karoline also highlights the difference in the ability to socialize between children who have little or no contact with screens and those who are frequently exposed to electronic equipment.

“Children who spend more time in front of screens end up having more difficulty in social situations. They may not know how to behave with their peers, have difficulty initiating conversations and carrying on the interactions and social exchanges so common for their age. children become more inhibited and isolated, which certainly compromises their current and probably future socialization and even their participation in the classroom”, warns the psychologist.

In the case of teenagers, the situation is even worse, as many bring their smartphones to school and isolate themselves from their peers, showing no interest in interacting.

Damage to sleep

The prolonged and unlimited use of cell phones, tablets and other electronic devices affects not only emotional issues but also factors directly related to well-being and health.

“It is very common for us to hear of cases where children or adolescents exceed their screen time, compromising important moments in their routine, such as rest periods. For example, a child who studies in the morning needs to wake up early to go to school. If parents do not control the time this child or adolescent spends on their mobile phone and allow them to use the device until late, sleep and rest are reduced, with consequent damage to health and also to pedagogical performance. at school tired, sleepy and unable to perform pedagogically as expected for their age. Not to mention irritability, so common in children who do not sleep for the minimum recommended hours”, completes Karoline.

exacerbated immediacy

The use of on-demand content, anytime, anywhere, with a single click, without having to wait for the next day to watch the next episode of your favorite cartoon, is accustoming today’s children to having their wishes fulfilled at a rapid pace. Kaline explains that this immediacy, which has become characteristic of the new generations, ends up making them more impatient and irritated.

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“The child is still developing, still establishing his neural connections, and isn’t sure how to deal with the frustration of not getting what he wants right away. This can lead to crying and tantrums when he can’t look at it. show.” cartoon or play on their mobile at the exact moment they want, and if the consumed content is not to their liking, they are already used to quickly changing the content or attraction with a simple touch, until they find something they like again. it has negative impacts on the education and development of the child”, completes the coordinator.

impaired motor development

Accustomed to touch screens or buttons that respond to a simple pressure, children today are less and less engaged in activities that fully promote motor development.

“Today everything is tactile, children play less and less with modeling clay, building objects, draw and paint, and even handwriting is becoming less common due to the use of computers and digital keyboards. This undoubtedly affects the construction of space perception and motor development of children If we compare the drawings of a 5-year-old boy who does not use screens with those of another child who spends a lot of time in front of them, the difference is clear,” concludes Kaline.

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Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.