“It’s not good enough for us to have generations of kids that look forward to a better version of cell phone with a video in it. They need to look forward to exploration!!“

A lot has been already spoken about the use or rather overuse of smartphones across all generations, so what’s new about this article then? Well, here I try to highlight the most vulnerable age group and the issues they are already facing due to the early access to smartphones!! For my post-graduation thesis, I had studied the correlation between internet addiction and anxiety and aggression in students of junior college. Even with the small sample size, I could find increased anxiety and aggression in those adolescents who used internet for about 2-6 hours daily. So, you can imagine what smartphone use must be doing to the preschoolers in the age group of barely 3-7 years.

Recent data shows approximately 60-70% of children under 5 years spend more time on screens than the recommended limits for their age. Although, most of the parents and caregivers deny giving their toddlers access to the smartphones for long hours, the picture is totally different. Toddlers are usually given smartphones during mealtimes, sleep times or when the adults are busy with their work as managing kids during these times becomes critical. But what adults forget is that the whole smartphone technology is so engaging and captivating that not just these children, we adults too fall prey to the vicious cycle of craving for the positive feelings associated with phone use, resulting in spending more and more time on the devices.

And of course, we all know about the ill-effects of smartphone overuse. They can impact the physical, behavioral and cognitive areas of child development. We observe incidences of eye strain, headaches, blurred vision, decreased attention spans, reduced concentration, impaired memory and increased tantrums in most of the children these days. But now that smartphone has become indispensable part of our life, we need to think how to use it smartly. That is why I think age group of 2-7 years is really crucial because regulating the smartphone use at this stage is easier than doing it later.

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends maximum 1-1.5 hours per day screen time for this age group. The most important point to note here is that smartphone (or any other screen for that matter) should never be used as a pacifier i.e. to calm or distract the children. This increases their dependence on the screen resulting in impaired emotional regulation. Although, the screen may soothe your child temporarily but in the long run, a slight deprivation results in impulsive behavior and increase in anger, frustration, and sadness.

So, a few tips that can help you are:

• Keep all the devices away from bedrooms, during mealtimes, and for the first hour after waking up. Follow a routine where, if possible, every member of family (or at least one parent if work does not permit everyone) eats together without screens.
• Decide a suitable time (avoid viewing continuously for 1 hour) with your child to watch the screen preferably when any one adult is around to check the age-appropriate content and can discuss whatever content is being watched to make it interactive.
• Adults should also follow healthy, moderate device usage practices and indulge in other indoor (drawing, reading, coloring, cleaning) and outdoor (walking, running, cycling, swimming, playing sports) interactive activities with children on regular basis or as and when time permits.

I understand, keeping children completely away from screens is impossible due to many reasons but limiting their exposure can also be effective at such a tender age. If the kids could develop a hobby, they themselves will indulge in the activity rather than being glued to the smartphones. Remember, the kids learn what they see and the kids in this age group have comparatively less exposure to outer world or peers, so we can try and inculcate responsible screen use habits in them.

“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence!!”