Digital Devices by Lauren Eustace

Negative Effect Digital Devices can have on Children

laureneustace24 — 2022-04-18 12:03:47 UTC

Effect on Sleep:
The Blue light from digital devices can trick the brain into thinking it is daytime, this will affect children's sleep patterns as it will take them longer to go to sleep if they are on digital devices before bed.
Children who watched more than two hours of TV a day were 64 percent less likely to get the recommended 10 hours of sleep compared to those who were on a screen for 30 minutes or less. It’s no secret that lack of sleep can lead to tired, cranky kids who are more likely to exhibit undesirable behaviour.

Negative Effect Digital Devices can have on Children

laureneustace24 — 2022-04-18 12:11:19 UTC

The Effect on Brain Function:
Screens can have a drug-like effect on the children's brains which can make them more anxious It can make children
Early data from a landmark National Institutes of Health (NIH) study that began in 2018 indicates that children who spent more than two hours a day on screen-time activities scored lower on language and thinking tests, and some children with more than seven hours a day of screen time experienced thinning of the brain’s cortex, the area of the brain related to critical thinking and reasoning more

Negative Effect Digital Devices can have on Children

laureneustace24 — 2022-04-18 12:16:12 UTC

The Effect Digital Devices has on Behaviour:
Increased screen time has been linked with unfavourable body composition, higher cardiometabolic risk, unfavourable behavioural conduct, lower fitness, and lower self-esteem in children. Considering this evidence, expert groups have issued guidelines on recreational ST that recommend no more than 2 h per day for children and youth (5–17 years), no more than 1 h for preschoolers (3–4 years) and older toddlers (2–3 years), and avoiding all screens for young toddlers and infants (< 2 years).

Benefits of Controlled Digital Time

laureneustace24 — 2022-04-18 12:21:27 UTC

Even for children younger than preschool age, electronic devices can help to stimulate the imagination and senses.
Some electronic use may promote language and listening and help a child learn sounds and speech.
Electronic devices and games may encourage cognitive learning and the development of analytical skills.
This may in turn help children build innovative thinking and investigation skills, strategic thinking, and creativity.
Using computers may improve manual dexterity.
Mastering games builds confidence and develops hand-eye coordination.
Building computer literacy is an important skill in today's world.
Games that encourage players to move up levels and earn high scores may help develop mathematical and engineering skills, as well as the motivation to meet goals.

Benefits for Children with Special Needs

laureneustace24 — 2022-04-19 16:51:17 UTC

Increases communication:
By using affordable upgraded communication apps, children with special needs have the tools to clearly express their feelings and desires to people who can solve those needs. If a child is unable to use their voice, they can use their iPad to communicate their feelings, such as hunger, and can customize apps with images that show the common needs and desires in their daily life. As a result, children and their caregivers experience less frustration while communicating throughout the day.
Features include VoiceOver, which reads the screen out loud, Zoom, which magnifies the screen’s content, and Assistive Touch which allows you to adapt the touch screen prompts to the user’s unique physical needs.

Tips on How to Get in Control of Your Child's Screen Time

laureneustace24 — 2022-04-19 16:57:34 UTC

1. Set a good example with your own use of digital devices
2. Be open about the risks and responsibility of using a digital device, prepare your child for what they can encounter online.
3. Put in place a family agreement and agree an appropriate length of time they can use their device.
4. Use tech tools and parental control to manage the time they spend online and the apps they use
5. Get the whole family to unplug and create 'screen free' zones at home, this could be the dinner table for example.
6. Together find apps, site and games that will help children explore their passions and make screen time active.
7. Encourage children to self-regulate the time they spend online and the activity they do to ensure they are having a positive impact on their wellbeing

Step by Step guide on locking websites/apps for children

laureneustace24 — 2022-04-23 15:33:16 UTC

Link:
https://www.pandasecurity.com/en/mediacenter/panda-security/parental-control/