Headline, March 20 2025/ ''' LITTLE ANGELS LIGHTS '''

''' LITTLE ANGELS

 LIGHTS '''

THE SCREEN-TIME TRAP : HANDING A smartphone to a ' Little Angel ' may seem like a harmless way to keep them engaged but paediatricians caution against the long-term consequences from sleep disruptions to developmental decay.

GETTING HOOKED EARLY : A LOOK at various studies shows the extent of the use of screens by children. A recent survey by cybersecurity company Kaspersky stated that '' 89 percent of parents use gadgets to keep children occupied while travelling or to gain some free time for themselves.''

The survey, published in February further states that about 53 percent of children in the Middle East,  Turkey, and Africa [ META ] region receive their first personal device - a smartphone or a tablet between the age of three and seven.

According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry members from May 2024, in the US, on average, children aged 8-12 spend four to six hours a day, while teens spend up to nine hours a day in front of screens, including TV, smartphones, tablets, computers etc.

Guidelines provided by the World Health Organization [WHO] recommend no screen time for children under the age of two and less than one hour per day for children between the ages of two and five years.

Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics [ AAP ] recommends '' avoiding screens for children younger than 18 to 24 months, except when video chatting with family.''

It also recommends '' limiting screen use for preschool children, ages two to five, to no more than one to two hours a day.''

IMPACT ON WELL-BEING : Exposed to screens from a very young age, children develop a habit of  spending time in front of the TV or using some electronic device, and gradually their screen time increases, sometimes to a level where it begins to affect their health and personality in many ways that we may not even be aware of.

Dr. Nargis Asad, who heads the psychiatry department at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi states that, as with anything else, excess screen time is also harmful, particularly for children.

Studies from across the world have shown that children who spend long hours on screen not only have reduced quality and quantity of sleep, they also do not pay attention to their diet and engage in fewer physical activities.

Not eating a balanced diet and reduced physical activities can lead to weight obesity and weight problems.

It can also cause post-posture and chronic neck, shoulder and back pain, explains Dr. Mubina  Agboatwalla while narrating the case of a 10-year-old patient.

The excessive use of a tablet [ computer ] resulted in the patient's elbow becoming semi-flexed, or partially bent for which she had to undergo treatment, including physiotherapy.

'' The foremost effect is on eyesight,'' says Dr. Agboatwalla, adding that the screen light, especially when watching from close, affects the eyes, and headaches are common among children who spend much time on screens.

'' If a child has a family history of migraine, headaches start earlier, i.e predisposition to migraine is exaggerated with excessive use of screen,'' she points out.

The excessive screen time can disrupt sleep. The blue light from screens, especially tablets and smartphones, inhibits melatonin - the sleep hormone ; this can delay sleep by keeping the brain and body more alert and activated and less ready for sleep.

Dr. Asad points out that sleep deprivation affects a person's cognitive skills, resulting in mood swings, depression etc. Dr. Agboatwalla concurs, saying that lack of sleep leaves the child irritated, not able to focus on food and studies.

'' For young children, 10 hours of sleep is important,'' she asserts.

Excessive screen time can also lead to delayed speech, with children's vocabulary also affected, continues Dr. Agboatwalla. Studies have shown that, for children, the best way to learn language or communication is engaging with adults while talking and playing with them.

'' Their writing skills are replaced by typing and so writing is also affected,'' she says. It can lead to lower grades in school, some teens also neglect responsibilities, as they are absorbed in screens.

Excessive use of screens can also affect a child's social skills, because of spending less time interacting in peer groups, elaborates Dr. Asad.

She says that screens provide an easy escape for children who have social anxiety, as they don't have to deal with their peers.

'' When children interact with each other, they even have fights and differences,'' continues Dr. Asad, adding that such situations allow children to learn to deal with conflict.

The Honour and Serving of the Latest Global Operational Research on Little Angels and Screen-Time,  continues. The World Students Society thanks Rizwana Naqvi.

With most loving and respectful dedication to all the Little Angels of the world and then Students, Professors and Teachers. See You all prepare for Great Global Elections on The World Students Society : wssciw.blogspot.com and Twitter X !E-WOW! - The Ecosystem 2011 :

Good Night and God Bless

SAM Daily Times - The Voice Of The Voiceless