Aaaaah, screens! Whether for work or for fun, these technological tools are now an integral part of our daily lives, and even that of our little ones. Now that science is shedding more and more light on the effects of screens on our little ones, the motivation to reduce their use is growing. Why not take advantage of the start of the new year to set new family goals regarding screens?
Recommendations from the Canadian Paediatric Society
Did you know that the Canadian Paediatric Society has issued recommendations regarding screen exposure? In fact, it recommends avoiding all exposure to screens for children under 2 years old. Babies should not handle a smartphone or tablet, or watch television programs. Between the ages of 3 and 5, parents should limit their children to one hour of screen time per day and ideally supervise this exposure with active support. That is to say, children should be left unsupervised in front of the television or on a tablet as little as possible.
The impact of screens on children
Since the stimulations offered by screens are intense, they have the consequence of soliciting all of children's attentional capacities, which means that they cannot develop them effectively. Instead of being in an active cognitive situation, the child is rather absorbed by the strong stimulations, which can harm the development of their sustained, selective and divided attention. This can lead to difficulties for the child to concentrate and maintain their attention in class, for example.
Screens do not allow children to have real interpersonal exchanges. Time spent watching a show or playing on a tablet reduces the child's opportunities to practice their communication skills. As a result, screens can harm language development. Did you know that no data has been able to prove that there are actually educational programs that allow children to develop their vocabulary? On the contrary, the literature shows that their communication skills are reduced following early or prolonged exposure to screens.
Creativity and playful autonomy are also hindered when a child is repeatedly exposed to screens: being passively busy processing images and sounds, he no longer needs to create play scenarios himself and satisfy his curiosity to explore his environment, leading to a certain form of laziness. By no longer practicing, it will be increasingly difficult for the child to invent his play situations alone.
If you want to delve deeper into the subject and better understand the impacts of screens on child development and demystify several beliefs on the subject, the book " Say no to screens more often for children " is the tool you need!
Is it possible to use screens in a positive and supportive way?
Yes! Sit down with your children in front of the television or tablet and keep them active. Discuss in real time what they see on the screen. Encourage exchanges and limit exposure time to encourage other family activities.
However, the activities you do with your children away from screens remain the best you can offer since they allow them to interact, move, manipulate and live rich experiences that are not passive and overstimulating.
Some items to reduce the use of screens on a daily basis
Lunii's story factory allows children to occupy their car journeys or wait in waiting rooms by stimulating their imagination and cognitive development through narrated stories that they will build themselves. Psst! The new story factory from Passe-Partout will make fans of Cannelle et Pruneau go crazy!
My little Morpheus is the item of choice to bring little ones to rest before naptime or in the evening without resorting to screens. Designed by professionals in child relaxation, it offers 192 meditative journeys promoting concentration & returns to calm.
Photo credit: Camylle Messier
The Moulin Roty magnetic screen will be your ally for restaurant outings to avoid having to use screens to wait before eating. Thanks to its magic slate, it will allow mini to draw endlessly!
Sources:
Esseily , R., Guellai , B., Chopin , A. & Somogyi , E. (2017). Is screen time good or bad for young children: A review of the literature on screen prevalence and its effects on early cognitive development. Spirale , 83, 28-40. https://doi.org/10.3917/spi.083.0028
L'Écuyer, C. (2021). These screens that absorb our children . Eyrolles.
