Protect Your Children From The Negative Effects Of Electronic Screens
It is common to see in families how children spend more time than indicated looking at screens. They like to hang out playing electronic games and since they watch their parents spend hours and hours in front of the screens, they see nothing wrong with doing it themselves. Although the reality is that children must be protected from the negative effects of electronic screens.
Electronic screens, as everyone knows, should be used in moderation, always under the supervision of parents and, above all, setting rules and limits, both in their use and in the exposure time. They can generate negative effects on the health of children, both physically (sedentary lifestyle, obesity, visual problems), and emotionally (nervousness, isolation, anxiety).
How to protect children from the negative effects of electronic screens
If your child complains of burning eyes, you should check the amount of time they spend with the devices. Here are some tips that will help you take care of your eye health, although you need to also take into account other important aspects, such as regular physical exercise and socialization, both with friends and family.
Limit the time of use of electronic screens
Limit the amount of time your children spend watching television. Limit the time on other gadgets to one hour a day for young children and two hours a day for children who go to school. Divide this assignment into two or three sessions to reduce eyestrain. You need to be firm about this because children can’t find the time to end screen time.
Encourage children to play outside
The gadgets encourage sedentary habits that are bad for the body and mind. Encourage children to spend time outside for activities that require them to move and interact with other children. Playing outside with the dog or other children is more fun than watching an animated movie for the umpteenth time. Spending time outdoors also exercises long-distance vision and reduces the chances of myopia.
Don’t use gadgets as babysitters
Keeping your kids busy with gadgets or the television can allow you to do whatever you want in peace, but it’s a bad idea. Instead, keeping them busy with healthier alternatives like creative toys, coloring books, or story books is a much better idea.
Make sure your child gets enough sleep
Children should sleep about 10 hours a day. Sleep allows the eyes to recover from stress. Ask them to take regular breaks and to blink frequently. To avoid dry eyes, ask your child to blink two or three times each time his eyes hurt.
Reduces eyestrain
Eyestrain can be reduced by taking short breaks to look at something other than the screen. Most opticians advocate the 20-20-20 rule. Take a break every 20 minutes and focus on something about 20 meters away for 20 seconds. This will help reduce eyestrain and prevent eyes from becoming irritated.
Make sure children keep the correct distance from electronic screens
While using a computer or other personal device, the eye should be at least 12 inches away from electronic displays. Don’t allow children to sit too close while watching television. If your child prefers to sit close to the screen, have his eyes examined to rule out myopia.
Do not let them use appliances in the dark or in sunlight. Children may not pay attention to lighting conditions when engrossed in an activity. Do not allow the use of appliances in a dark room or under sunlight.
The brightness of the screen should not be three times darker or brighter than the surroundings. If your device has an automatic brightness mode, enable it. This automatically adjusts the screen brightness according to the ambient light. Digital displays cause eyestrain and other related symptoms, such as vision difficulties and headaches.
Children are more vulnerable than adults, and spending too much time with braces can affect your vision. It is difficult to keep children away from devices, but you can take steps to minimize adverse effects by following these tips.
