Children spend more time with screens than their family: CBSE Secretary

Technology affects every aspect of our lives, from shopping for groceries to booking tickets. We use our phones and computers everywhere we can, as they are super convenient and fast. But what about the children in India, especially the young ones? An average adult in India has a screen time of up to 6 hours and the average child under 12 has a screen time of 2-4 hours a day.

Recently, CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta attended the 30th anniversary of Delhi Public School as the Chief Guest. He talked about how kids these days spend more time with screens than their families and siblings. "None of the gadgets and screen time can replace the genuine love of siblings and family. Therefore, the most important thing is relationships and it's crucial to dedicate time to our children," he said. 

He also talked about the harmful effects of kids being glued to their screens and not participating in other activities or socialising with others. Indian Academy of Pediatrics suggests less than 1 hour of screen time for children between the ages of 2 to 4 and less than 2 hours of screen time for children between 5 to 10. Screen time for kids increased drastically during the pandemic and now has become a norm to see a kid in front of a screen. 

There are many negative effects of exposing young kids to screens. Let’s explore some and understand their severe consequences. 

1. Sleep Disturbance 

Having a bright screen emitting blue light can affect the production of melatonin, which can cause disrupted sleep patterns and result in insomnia. Lack of sleep is dangerous for humans of all ages, however, it harms children even more and interferes with their learning abilities, physical well-being, and overall mood. 

2. Mental Health 

Consuming this much media at such a young age is not healthy. Too much screen time can cause behavioural changes and mood swings. It can cause aggression and other attention issues which can lead to many mental problems at a young age.  

3. Physical Health

Kids with excessive screen time usually end up with a sedentary lifestyle which leads to obesity and other diseases linked to it. Physical activities are a must for children and their overall development. 

4. Social Skills 

Spending more time with screens than family and friends can be dangerous for children and might affect their socialising skills for life. It can result in troubles with face-to-face communication and reading emotions. 

5. Cognitive development

Excess screen time can replace other activities such as reading, playing, writing, painting, and others which are also necessary for a child’s development. Consuming so much media and content can overstimulate the brain and affect a child’s attention span. 

In this age where technology is needed everywhere, it is not healthy to deprive children of all screens but setting a limit and maintaining a balance is the key to a better overall development of children. 

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