of grade-school-aged kids, which found that nearly two-thirds of the children are using their devices at night instead of sleeping, with a corresponding drop in concentration, memory and energy. Marrocco maintains fi rm boundaries with her daughter, 13, and son, 18, prohibiting the use of electronics at the kitchen table and in their rooms at night, in line with AAP recommendations. “They can only have devices in their room at night if they are in offl ine ‘airplane mode’ so they won’t be tempted to check or respond to incoming messages,” she says. Kids don’t sleep well next to their phones, agrees Cross, a mother of three, ages 4, 6 and 8. “They have trouble falling and staying asleep.” She also doesn’t let her children use e-readers instead of books.


Prevent Screen Addiction Psychotherapist Nicholas Kardaras, Ph.D., an addiction expert and executive director of The Dunes, a rehab clinic in East Hampton, New York, is even fi rmer about screen time, having seen some kids go off


Media and screens are


best used purposefully, to achieve a specifi ed goal.


~Corinn Cross


the digital deep end. Delaying the onset of screen exposure is the most critical step a parent can take, suggests Kardaras. “There’s no evidence to suggest media exposure is benefi cial to child development. Most tech geniuses, including the founders of Google, Amazon and Apple, were not exposed to it until adolescence. “Treating digital addiction is


challenging because you can’t be digitally abstinent in this society,” he continues. “Prevention is the key.” Digital media abuse can have lasting developmental impacts, according to Kardaras, author of Glow Kids: How Screen Addiction is Hijacking our Kids and How to Break the Trance. DrKardaras.com cites numerous studies on the effects of such intensive use, from increased prevalence of attention defi cit disorder to higher rates of depression.


Brain imaging studies from institutions such as the medical schools at Indiana University and University of Utah have shown how heavy exposure to digital media has effects on the brain similar to substance addiction, reports Kardaras, affecting areas of the brain linked with functions like impulse control, brain connectivity and processing speed. In his practice, red fl ags for potential digital addiction include strong reactions when devices are taken away, disinterest in “offl ine” activities, worsening of interpersonal relationships and dropping grades. Modeling good practices is as important as monitoring kids’ behavior, suggests Cross. In her household, all electronic tablets and cell phones are kept in a drawer when not in use. “If I have work to do or have to take a phone call, I’ll go to another room, then come back and be present with the kids,” she says. “Quality, face-to- face time is important.”


Connect with freelance writer April Thompson, in Washington, D.C., at AprilWrites.com.


Four Ways to Set Digital Limits


tell them to put their devices away,” advises Pediatrician Corinn Cross. HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan offers a free interactive online tool to create a personalized family media use plan.


If kids don’t comply with rules,


Kathy Marrocco suggests turning the Wi-Fi off at night or taking away devices altogether. But don’t leave a void, cautions Cross. Substitute fun, fulfi lling activities.


K


eeping the family in sync about the amount of digital media use


is challenging. Here are some expert tips on maintaining a healthy balance.


1


Decide the ground rules — “Determine rules that make sense for everyone, and it’ll be much


easier to get your kids on board, as they won’t see it as arbitrary when you


2


Be wary of even “good” screen time— Test educational apps before approving them for kids to ensure their quality and so parents can help reinforce the learning, says Cross. She likes CommonSenseMedia.org for parental reviews and information to fi lter media of all kinds, from apps and games to TV shows. Consider advocating for limiting screen time in local schools. “I asked


my boys’ elementary school not to give them portable devices until they were 10,” says Nicholas Kardaras, the father of 9-year-old twins.


3


Watch out for rewards — Some screen time is more mesmerizing for kids than others, according


to Kardaras, who treats such addictions. Most video games are designed on a variable reward schedule, similar to slot machines, which intentionally stimulates players to chase future rewards. Consider stricter limits on such media.


4


Play fi rst in the real world — Because it reduces overall exercise, screen overuse can contribute to obesity. Cross recommends prioritizing exercising before daily allotted screen time; after being online, it’s more diffi cult to engage kids in physical activity.


June 2017 21


Subbotina Anna/Shutterstock.com


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