How much screen time is healthy for your child? : Medical concern

How much screen time is healthy for your child? : Medical concern

Many parents think that technology and gadgets are essential for their child's development, it is true in some sense but most important question arises that how much time should a child spend in front of a screen. Now this question has become a matter of concern by many parents.

A survey conducted by Vertbaudet.co.uk found that four in five parents believe technology and gadgets are good for kids, aiding in their development. The study found that 37 percent of parents asked said that their child spent between one and two hours a day playing with tech gadgets, and 28 percent said between two­ and three hours. Moreover, the study found that 38 percent of two­ to five­year­olds own an Android tablet, and 32 percent own an iPad; almost a third (32 percent) of these kids also have a mobile phone.

The reason behind all this gadget use: over a third of parents (35 percent) said they use tech gadgets to entertain their children because they are convenient, and nearly a quarter (23 percent) because they want their children to be tech­savvy.

We must also weigh up the risks associated with children having too much screen time. Whether it’s Facebook, internet or computer games, screen time is no longer merely a cultural issue about how children spend their leisure time, nor is it confined to concern over the educational value or inappropriate content – it has become a medical issue. TV has been an easy "babysitter" for years now but computer, tablet and mobile screens create more worry.

How much time is healthy for a child before Screen

How much screen time is healthy for a 7 year ­old, 10 year old, even 1, 2 or 3 year old? How much TV should a child watch? How many hours in front of a computer?

There is a lack of clarity of advice, but many governmental advices are available on the maximum amount of time a child should spend in front of a screen.

• In 2013 the US Department of Health recommended that children less than two years of age should not be in front of a screen at all, and over that age the maximum leisure screen time should be no more than two hours a day.
• The French government has even banned digital terrestrial TV aimed at all children under three, while Australia and Canada have similar recommendations and guidelines.
• In Taiwan parents are legally obligated to monitor the screen time of their children under 18.
• Unfortunately India has no such rules and governmental agencies are less concern in this matter.

Experts advice that brains are being stimulated before bedtime in the way that books don’t do. Electronic devices just before bedtime is not a good idea and these devices should be switched off at least an hour before bedtime.

So how much time you have decided for your child before Screen?

As less as possible. Children under two should not spend any time before Screen. Babies and toddlers are kept away from all screens. Children aged 2­5 years should have no more than an hour a day, and children aged 5­18 years should have no more than two hours a day. Real danger is non­educational, leisure screen time.

What you can Do?

Minimum screen time for children under three.

Don’t allow TVs, computers or any screen based device into a child’s bedroom.

Put away your own digital devices when communicating with your children.

Don’t just switch off the mobile, Tablet or computer discusses the health benefits of reduced screen time with your child.

Alternatives to screen time

• Physical activities
• Social activities
• Hobbies

Remember being over stimulated is worse than being bored.

Healthy and Unhealthy habits related to health

HEALTHY AND UNHEALTHY HABITS RELATED TO HEALTH

Living a long and healthy life depends on many factors including hereditary characters. You can not change your hereditary characters, but by changing your certain habits you can have a healthy and extended life.

The key is to replace unhealthy habits and adopt healthy one.   

UNHEALTHY HABITS

1.   Skip of Breakfast 

Our body needs sugar to work properly. Our body carries low sugar level by skipping breakfast and with low sugar level neither our mind nor our body works properly.

Having the regular breakfast keeps Type-2 Diabetes away from us and it also helps to control our weight.

So, make sure that you start your day with a healthy breakfast.

2.   Spending your whole day sitting idle

Our body consumes Glucose and gives us energy by doing activities. But if our body is not active properly then, this Glucose is not consumed by our body and increases blood sugar and fat. High- level of blood sugar causes kidney damage, nerve damage, blindness, etc.

3.   Taking sleep only for five hours

It is well proved now that with less sleeping time, the level of Leptin  hormones decreases. It affects our hunger and push us to overeat. It can also make our immune system weak.

So, it is very important to take sleep of at least seven to eight hours a day.   

4.   Taking Vitamin supplements unnecessarily

These days  people take vitamin supplements thinking that it will keep them healthy, but unfortunately, taking these pills unnecessarily can cause different diseases such as Kidney stone, Diarrhea, Vomiting etc.  The people who are healthy and takes proper meal need not to take these vitamin- supplements unnecessarily.

5.   Brushing teeth just after Meal

After taking meal, the acids that are present in the food attacks on teeth that destructs Enamel and Dentin layers. But, by brushing teeth just after lunch or dinner we pass this acid under these layers. Therefore, it affects our teeth very badly.

So, we should brush our teeth minimum one hour after taking meals.

HEALTHY HABITS

1.   Keep your body Hydrated

It is very important to keep our body hydrated. It not only passes all the toxins out of our body but also makes our skin shine. It helps to increase our energy level. So we should drink eight to ten glasses of water every day to keep ourself healthy.

2.   Use low amount of salt, oil and sugar

Using less amount of salt, oil and sugar is a very healthy habit. Excess amount of these can cause a number of diseases.

3.   Be happy

Those who are happy does not get infections easily and always stay away from diseases. The reasons behind this is that their body releases cytokine, that is infection fighting protein.

4.   Physical Activities in daily routine

By doing physical activities daily, Yoga and Pranayam you can keep yourself fit and if you are fit you can easily keep yourself away from diseases such as Diabetes, Cancer and Heart Attacks.

5.   Take your meal at right time

Taking meal from time to time is one of the best ways to keep yourself healthy and fit. This habit maintains sugar level properly.

Follow these habits to stay fit and healthy and do not forget to comment.