GOT Screen Facts & Resistance

1.) Parents are the best example to engage with children face to face and limit screen time.

2.) Video games with no educational value rate the worst screen time. 

3.) U.S. Surgeon General - Depression and anxiety doubled for children and adolescents who spend more than 3 hours a day on social media.

4.) Preschoolers spending two hours plus on screens start to exhibit behavioral issues like hyperactivity, aggression, and display less curiosity and positive emotions.

5.) Tablet use is linked to anger and tantrums in kids.

6.) Early childhood is a critical time for play, reading, and social interactions to build emotional and cognitive skills. 

7.) Phone addiction is an unhealthy and compulsive dependence on mobile devices with negative effects on mental, physical, and emotional health.

8.) The blue light emitted from electronic devices can interfere with sleep patterns, mood, and increase irritability.

9.) Screen time is linked to increase risk of nearsightedness (myopia) in children.

10.) Book reading print is better than reading screen print. Studies show screen readers score lower on comprehension and book readers have greater brain connections for language processing and cognitive control.

11.) Keep these items available in your home for children and you will see a decrease in screen time:

A. Paper print books no screens 

B. Maps hung in the home 

C. Craft supplies 

D. Math Manipulatives - objects kids can touch and see 

E. Music and instruments 

F. Art 

G. Notebooks and journals 

12.) There is a tidal wave of suffering caused by screens and phones.

13.) 2010-2020 – 18% rise in girls ages 10-14 treated for non-fatal self-injury.

Increase in Teen Maladies: 

1. Sleep Deprivation

2. Loneliness

3. Self-Harm

4. Mental Illness

14.) When we write by hand with a pen or pencil, it actually helps us think more clearly and remember things better.  It uses fine motor skills and taps into different senses, which boosts how we learn.

1.) Unplug on weekends, plan play dates, register for sports, provide spiritual nourishment.

2.) Rules at home, example: exclude devices in certain rooms.

3.) Plan outdoor activities. Time in nature away from screens is therapeutic and an innate need of the human body and brain. 

4.) Plan ahead and engage children in shared book reading, dancing, and singing to music, nature and park trips and all imagination play.

5.) Encourage Co-use technologies for children between the caregiver, parent, and child.

6.) Establish a family media use plan and set clear rules for screen time and high-quality educational content.

7.) Do not permit screens at mealtime and bedtime routines. 

8.) Parents, caretakers, and teachers limit personal screentime in the presence of children. Lead by example and have clear boundaries.

9.) Avoid using screens as a tool to calm, occupy, or soothe children during emotional outbursts.   

10.) Spending more time outdoors gives children exposure to natural light and more opportunities to focus on objects at various distances lowering risk of eye health issues. 

11.) Since technology is here and to stay..the most promising PLAN includes both print and screen reading. Prioritize print reading for children since they enjoy the tactile experience of a book which supports spatial memory and cognitive skills. 

12.) Read books/paper. 

13.) Use a pen and write daily. Keep pens, pencils and crayons lying around for children.

14.) Practice calligraphy, cursive, and longhand to improve working memory, deep thinking, and learning.

15.) Try to avoid shiny tools - devices that are easier and expedite productivity.  Comprehension is lower for people reading on digital devices rather than paper books. 

“The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing An Epidemic of Mental Illness” by Glade Smith   

“Building a Bridge to the 18th Century: How the Past Can Improve Our Future” by Neil Postman 

“Well-Ordered Family” by Conor Gallager

"The Hacking of the American Mind" by Robert H. Lustig, MD, MSL