{"id":13581,"date":"2017-03-14T20:35:13","date_gmt":"2017-03-15T00:35:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=13581"},"modified":"2017-03-15T14:29:51","modified_gmt":"2017-03-15T18:29:51","slug":"kids-on-drugs-i-mean-screens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=13581","title":{"rendered":"Kids on Drugs….I Mean, Screens"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

I have a confession to make.<\/p>\n

There’s a precious little girl in my life who calls me “Ga” (because she can’t yet say “Gram”). Not even 20 months old, she has learned well how to use her tiny index finger to point for us to take her wherever in the house or yard she wants to go. She demonstrates her mastery of body parts by pointing that finger to her eye, nose, mouth, etc. when we call out the word. Just recently, she holds up that singular wee finger when identifying the number “win”.<\/p>\n

My heart melts.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, I am a culprit contributing to the delinquency of a minor…no, no. Not that…but I have contributed to her developing that index finger further in playing with my smart phone. She knows how to scroll through pictures and she knows how to tap the “play” icon to start up videos.<\/p>\n

Is that so horrible? What’s the harm?<\/p>\n

[Here’s the disclaimer. There is no judgment here whatsoever for the sleep-deprived moms out there who hand their preschooler their smart phone or tablet while nursing or dressing the baby…or trying to get dinner prepared…or (fill in the blank). I remember the years of small ones myself, so many years ago. In fact, the TV as babysitter was my go-to device to get stuff done or maintain my own supposed sanity. Not just for the little ones but for myself, just to watch something for my own relaxation. Of course, they were watching with me…so I had to consider the possible impact of that then, as I’m writing about screens now.]\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Pexels<\/a><\/p>\n

My confession comes from a place of discovery. The problem is not that this toddler likes looking at pictures of her family on my phone. That has to be a morally neutral (even positive) thing. Also not a problem is her fondness for her Uncle Nae’s music videos. She has her favorites and daily asks to see those (Dayman<\/em><\/a> and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas<\/em><\/a>)…among others…several others.<\/p>\n

The problem is when she doesn’t get her way. When Mommy intervenes or when Gram comes to her senses about the amount of screen time she’s facilitating. Then this funny, sweet, curious little girl flings her head back, attempts a body-slam, and emits a piercing angry cry against those who would keep her from her screen(s).<\/p>\n

Morally neutral or even positive goes out the window at that point. Given her reaction, when does something soothing and enriching like family photos and videos cross a line…out there in a few kiddie years…to a screen or internet addiction?<\/p>\n

I don’t think I’m over-reaching here. There is balance absolutely, but if we don’t even consider the risk, we won’t take steps to keep screen use healthy for our children\/grandchildren. I’m dealing with this in my own head right now…and in my habits.<\/p>\n

This is not a new awareness. Articles have been popping up for years on the negative emotional, physical and social impact of over-use of tech devices. As we’ve passed our devices on to our children, the warnings apply to them as well. Worse for them is the fact that their brains are still in development, as are their interpersonal bondings, awareness, and skills.\"\"<\/a>Photo Credit: Flickr<\/a><\/p>\n

My personal revelation today came on the reading of Dr. Nicholas Kardaras<\/a>‘ New York Post article It’s ‘Digital Heroin'” How Screens Turn Kids Into Psychotic Junkies<\/em><\/a>. He advises parents to be cautionary in guiding their children’s use of technology and the internet.<\/p>\n

Many parents intuitively understand that ubiquitous glowing screens are having a negative effect on kids. We see the aggressive temper tantrums when the devices are taken away and the wandering attention spans when children are not perpetually stimulated by their hyper-arousing devices. Worse, we see children who become bored, apathetic, uninteresting and uninterested when not plugged in.<\/em><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s even worse than we think.<\/em><\/p>\n

We now know that those iPads, smartphones and Xboxes are a form of digital drug. Recent brain imaging research is showing that they affect the brain\u2019s frontal cortex \u2014 which controls executive functioning, including impulse control \u2014 in exactly the same way that cocaine does. Technology is so hyper-arousing that it raises dopamine levels \u2014 the feel-good neurotransmitter most involved in the addiction dynamic \u2014 as much as sex. – Dr. Nicholas Kardaras<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

I was reminded of when our boys were middle schoolers. A friend of theirs came over to spend the night. They played video games for hours. When we finally told the boys to take a break, the friend actually became more and more anxious, even to the point of not being able to get his breath. We had to take him home.<\/p>\n

Now all toddlers are not going to end up heroin…I mean, tech junkies. Again, there is a balance in how we determine what’s a healthy use of electronic devices and where limits need to be set.<\/p>\n

It’s just something to think about. My confession here relates to the personal struggle I have with internet dependence. I was a late adopter of smart phones (my first being in 2013). At the time, my job was a communications strategist for a new work team. Managing a blog, Twitter and Facebook pages, and other office communications kept me online most of the time. Online and distracted by it. Still a struggle for me to have balance in this area.<\/p>\n

I don’t want to have that sort of influence on this darling granddaughter, our tinier grandson, or others who will come after.<\/p>\n

Before smartphones and Wi-Fi, I was a people-watcher and a people-engager. I read books more. Had people over all the time. Now, don’t get me wrong…those things still happen…but screens are a huge distraction for me. I would love to be one of the nurturers for our grandchildren of a different sort of life… Screen time is going to happen every day, sure…but not to the point where they don’t prefer talking face-to-face with people nor be a part of great adventures or discover the world (in real life).\"\"<\/a><\/em>Photo Credit: Flickr<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

How are you handling your own electronic version of life? Please share in the Comments section. You will find helpful links below – articles and books. All the articles are practical and empowering. [I have not yet read the books; they are recommended by the authors of some of the articles below.]<\/p>\n

As for our little one’s love of her uncle’s videos? She will still be watching them, just not over and over and over. Fortunately she can also enjoy the music (without benefit of the screens) because we are Patreon patrons of her uncle<\/a> with his MP3s as perks). Those music files were a great help recently to this tiny girl enduring a long roadtrip. Listening to her favorites, she finally fell asleep.<\/p>\n

Peace.<\/p>\n

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It’s ‘Digital Heroin'” How Screens Turn Kids Into Psychotic Junkies – Dr. Nicholas Kardaras<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction Is Hijacking Our Kids – And How to Break the Trance – <\/em>Dr. Nicholas Kardaras<\/a>
\n<\/em><\/p>\n

Screen Addiction Is Taking a Toll on Children<\/em> – Jane E. Brody<\/a><\/p>\n

How to Cut Children’s Screen Time? Say No to Yourself First.<\/em> – Jane E. Brody<\/a><\/p>\n

Guide to Quality Screen Time for Babies, Children, and Teens – <\/em>Stacy Zeiger<\/a><\/p>\n

Sing Me a Book And Read Me a Song: March Is “Read Aloud From Birth” Month! – <\/em>Pam Leo <\/a><\/p>\n

50 Ways Happier, Healthier, and More Successful People Live On Their Own Terms<\/em> \u2013 Benjamin P. Hardy<\/a><\/p>\n

Outsmarting the Smart Screens<\/em> (free parents’ guide) – Steven Gortmaker and Kaley Skapinsky, Harvard School of Public Health<\/a><\/p>\n

The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age<\/em><\/a> – Catherine Steiner-Adair Ed.D with Teresa H. Barker
\n<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment<\/em> – Dr. Kimberly S. Young and Dr. Nabuco De Abreu Cristiano PhD<\/a><\/p>\n

Internet Addiction in Children and Adolescents: Risk Factors, Assessment, and Treatment<\/em> – Dr. Kimberly S. Young and Dr. Nabuco De Abreu Cristiano PhD<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo Credit: Flickr I have a confession to make. There’s a precious little girl in my life who calls me “Ga” (because she can’t yet say “Gram”). Not even 20 months old, she has learned well how to use her tiny index finger to point for us to take her wherever in the house or … Continue reading Kids on Drugs….I Mean, Screens<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1264,926,690,34,869,1148,1435,2547,3394,317,1103,432,31,1102,875],"tags":[2144,4400,2548,1306,97,236,4406,4414,4408,4407,4404,4409,4410,4405,1136,594,4174,4412,4411,1249,4413,3479],"class_list":["post-13581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-addictions","category-attending-or-focus","category-babies-children","category-books","category-childrens-books","category-critical-thinking","category-growing-up","category-guitar","category-habits","category-lessons-learned","category-lifelong-learning","category-music","category-parenting","category-social-media","category-technology","tag-addictions","tag-benjamin-p-hardy","tag-beyond-the-guitar","tag-childhood","tag-children","tag-computer","tag-confession","tag-digital-age","tag-digital-heroin","tag-dr-nicholas-kardaras","tag-internet-addiction","tag-ipad","tag-jane-e-brody","tag-kids-on-drugs","tag-nathan-mills","tag-parenting-2","tag-patreon","tag-reading","tag-screen-addiction","tag-screens","tag-smart-screens","tag-smartphones"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pauPAB-3x3","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13581"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13617,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13581\/revisions\/13617"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}