By Mariana Pacheco
One of the most popular health trends in the past few years is detoxing. We hear about detox diets, teas, programs, and even detox retreats. Detoxing is the elimination of toxins that have accumulated in the body, due to poor eating habits and lifestyle choices that have left a person sick and with no energy.
In a recent interview, Dr. Andrea Silva, a family psychologist of 11 years, spoke about how kids today are urgently needing to detox as well, but from technology. She spoke to me about how kids are overdosing on technology, which causes them to become more anti-social, depressed, apathetic, and unable to hold conversations or play for longer periods of time.
To Dr. Silva, cellphones and tablets are the worst babysitters ever invented. “Even the television was a better babysitter a few years ago.” She explained that with television, families would usually sit together to watch something, and have discussions about what was happening on the screen. With cellphones and tablets, however, something that used to be collective has become individualized. When kids watch something on that tiny screen, they are isolated and enter a passive mode. There are no discussions; they’re just absorbing everything.
This can be really dangerous since childhood is the time when the brain, body, and psyche are forming. Whatever they experience now will affect them in the future and what kind of adults they become.
Healthy Screen Time Advice
When asked about what would be considered a healthy amount of screen time, Dr. Silva replied that it depends on each age group. When kids are playing, whether it be with friends or by themselves, they are using their imagination to build stories. When they’re in front of screens they are merely spectators, and that has different consequences for different age groups.
From 0-3 years of age, children shouldn’t spend any time on screens. During this time, kids are acquiring language skills and becoming aware of their own bodies. When kids this age spend too much time on screens, they don’t get enough of the necessary stimuli to fully develop in these areas. Interaction with other people is essential during this time period.
From 3-10 years of age, it’s time for kids to play pretend and fully engage with their imagination. “Playing is extremely complex if you come to think of it. The child needs to come up with a sequence, share what they imagined with their playmates, and together they negotiate what will happen as they all enter the imaginary world they are creating together. When they play online, none of that happens,” Dr. Silva explained. The scenery, the storyline, the characters, they all come ready. What children develop when they use their imagination during playtime will help them as they get older with reading interpretation, writing, and social skills. Different studies suggest varying amounts of time for kids in this age group, but Dr. Silva believes a good question to ask is this: “What is this taking place of?” If your child is spending 2 hours a day on a screen, and that time could be used together as a family at the end of the day, you are losing precious time.
How can you help your child detox from technology? Here are 5 steps:
- Set a specific time. Zero time during the week and a lot of time on the weekends is not recommended. Find balance. Short periods of time each day (15-20 minutes) at the same time each day can help your child understand when screen time is over.
- Reducing screen time works better when you have something fun for them to do afterward. Think about yourself: what is your reaction when you have to turn off Netflix and go clean the house? Kids work the same way, and it will be a lot easier for them if they know screen time is over, but they have something enjoyable coming up next.
- Bring things they like to see on the screen to the real world. Here are a few ideas to get you started: come up with a game based on a cartoon they like, draw a comic book using their favorite game as inspiration, or create characters using Legos or playdough.
- Let your house be “playable.” Create a space where your child can play, laugh, have their toys out, jump, roll, and explore safely. Having a space where there are a lot of rules and “don’t touch that” commands limit the possibilities your child has of playing or being creative outside of screens.
- Talk to your kids. If you want your child to spend less time in front of screens, spend time with them and tell them why. Explain to them the reasons. Children understand so much more than we give them credit for, and they are more likely to comply if you take the time to explain the rationale behind a rule.
Remember, if your child is used to spending a lot of time on screens, they might be resistant to change, and this can take a little more work. Consistency is key, and being an example to your child (by spending less time on screens yourself) will also help during this process.
Talking about technology, limits, and how to best use phones can be overwhelming. Try Noah’s New Phone: A Story About Using Technology for Good to help you have great conversations! An engaging story with a super helpful workbook, Noah’s New Phone is a great investment in your kids’ futures!
Mariana Pacheco graduated in Marriage and Family Studies from Brigham Young University- Idaho. She’s married and has an 8-year-old son and a 7-year-old golden retriever. She has been working as a cultural educator for the past 4 years: she teaches kids and teens social-emotional skills through stories, activities, art, and games.
Andrea Silva earned her Psychology degree at Universidade de São Paulo in Brazil. She has been working as a family psychologist for 11 years and is also an Ayurveda practitioner since 2008. She is married and the mother of 2 girls who are in middle and high school. She actively participates in her daughters’ school’s parent-teacher association, helping bring more awareness about the impacts of technology, preventing bullying, and creating a more balanced and healthy school life for kids.
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