The Sinister Screen: Reasons to Minimize Your Toddler’s Screentime

We are all guilty of abusing the convenience of screens. Those gadgets seem to work like magic, keeping our kids from turning into destructive dinosaurs. But, here’s a warning: too much use of such devices may bring harm to your bundle of joy. 
Inadequate Sleep
Phones and tablets transform kids into mini-zombies due to inadequate sleep. They become slow-moving and cranky, ready to bite anyone and anything. Yikes!

Toddlers may look funny in this zombie mode, but the effects of sleep deprivation are no laughing matter. Lack of sleep may hinder the growth of toddlers and also trigger negative emotions. So trim off some screentime and take naps with your kids instead. That’s what we parents call a win-win situation.  

Device Addiction

If your little one throws a tantrum whenever you don’t let them use your phone, then that might be the onset of their device addiction. It’s basically what happens to us adults when we don’t get our daily dose of coffee.

Device addiction in toddlers affects their learning process and emotional well-being. The good news is that you can stop it from getting worse. Schedule your child’s screentime and stick to it religiously! Never let their puppy eyes deceive you when they ask for extra five minutes.

Lack of Time for Bonding With Family

When left unchecked, toddlers can spend hours in front of their gadgets. This means that it is possible for kids to become more emotionally connected to a screen than to their family! What a sad thought.

Phones and tablets steal meaningful bonding time between toddlers and parents. Don’t let electronics snatch your kid away! Make sure they spend time with you, playing or doing small chores.

You also have to remember that our young ones look at us for example. Remember: monkey see, monkey do. Letting them see that you are not on your phone most of the time encourages them to do the same.

Underdeveloped Motor Skills

Kids who use their phones a lot don’t get to play physical games - and this is bad news for their developing bodies. Prolonged screentime may cause poor posture and can result in weak muscles and joints. Little George will find it hard to be a pro football player in the future if he is in front of his iPad all the time!

Final Thoughts

Electronic gadgets are actually valuable when used properly. As parents, we are responsible for ensuring that our toddlers get a healthy amount of screen time - which is only an hour daily. This is not a lot of time so make sure they get high-quality content!

To achieve a shorter screen time, you might want to invest in age-appropriate educational toys that will not only get your kid’s eyes off their phone but will also help them learn. Physical toys give you a chance to bond with your little one, so we absolutely recommend them.

Source
Gavin, M. L. (n.d.). Screen Time Guidelines for Babies and Toddlers (for Parents) - Nemours KidsHealth. Kids Health. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/screentime-baby-todd.html

Lai, N. (2019, October 15). Screen Time: Know Your Child’s Limits. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.chop.edu/news/health-tip/screen-time-know-your-child-s-limits

Lee, K. (2021, December 26). Less Screen Time Means a Better Mind and Body for Kids. Verywell Family. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.verywellfamily.com/cut-kids-screen-time-for-health-621154

Scanlon, K. (2019, February 14). How to Replace Your Toddler's Screen Time — My Toddler Talks. My Toddler Talks. Retrieved August 1, 2022, from https://www.mytoddlertalks.com/kims-blog/replace-childs-screen-time