Children And The Electronic Age
Humans have been around for millions of years. The majority of our existence has been in much simpler times as compared to modern times. The world of the hunter-gatherer has been the largest part of our time spent on “planet earth”. Over the last 10,000 years or so civilization has developed more into the form we are used to today due to agriculture and the forming of cities and states. The last 100 years has exploded in regards to a move from the industrial age to a recently developing computer and electronic age. This is a quick history of how we got to where we are.
One can argue that we are using bodies and brains that are more adapted to a simpler life and stressing ourselves into an amazing evolutionary adaptation of huge proportion. Our grandparents and great grandparents grew up in a much different technological time.
In the face of great technology and medical advances of our age patterns of childhood illness are changing. Conditions such as asthma, allergies, ear infections, attention deficit and hyperactivity, gastrointestinal and autoimmune diseases, obesity, cancer, and mental illness are just some of the health problems that are on the rise.
Why? Can it be related to the huge changes in our lifestyles, diet and environmental stresses? The increase in the use of television, computers, and hand-held computer games has become a major source of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure. It has been said that children absorb 3 times more radiation than adults, and EMR has been demonstrated to reduce the quality and quantity of sleep and affect memory and learning.
The increase in the use of television, computers, and hand-held games is one source of EMR in children, and toddlers now watching 2 + hours average a day of television. TV watching has been associated with inactivity, obesity, behavioral and sleep disturbances and less favorable images about the world. The above trend means less time for playful interaction with friends and family and the use of imagination.
Over time do our children learn in a way we want them to? Do they learn about sexuality or about being sexy? Do they learn about peaceful perspectives or how to act powerful? Does our modern culture and lifestyle choices have important impacts on our children’s health and development?
We must remember we have the responsibility and ability to have input on our children’s daily experiences. Technology is not all-bad and can improve our lives greatly. Our challenge is one of balance and moderation. This is one of the gifts we can provide for our children. Children who are brought up in a less frenetic way with time for play, reading and old fashioned games can probably handle most electronic media without the damage we all worry about in regards to overstimulation as long as we use logical limits and boundaries. Exact parameters must be decided per family and per individual. There is no science to how much and how often. Parenting is still an art and mission that requires education, mentorship, common sense and, most of all, love.
For more information please refer to: The Effects of Electronic Media on A Developing Brain by Robert Sylwester (Professor of Education, University of Oregon). Nutritional, Metabolic and Environmental Influences in Children’s Health by Dr. Robyn Cosford, University of Newcastle School of Biological Sciences.
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