In this era of technology, children are studying through mobile phones and tablets. Especially after online studies during Covid, their screen time has increased a lot. But, a research shows that due to increasing screen time, the understanding of basic maths and reading is not developing properly in children. Even due to screen time, children’s marks have decreased by 10 percent.
What were the results of the research?
This research, conducted from 2008 to 2023 on more than 5,000 Canadian children, found that due to screen exposure of children at an early age, their cognitive skills were weakening later on. Along with this, his marks in subjects like Maths and Reading Comprehension were decreasing.
In young children, every extra hour of screen time was reducing their academic performance by 9 percent. At the same time, the maths marks of older students dropped by 10 percent for every hour. However, this did not affect the writing skills much.
Parents of these students informed scientists about the time spent on devices like TV, gaming consoles and tablets, after which Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) took a test. According to the test results, the more screen time a student had, the weaker he was in basic studies.
Decreasing attention span and patience in children
Teachers are the first to see its effects. DAV Public School teacher Anita believes that the attention span of students has reduced considerably and they prefer watching short video clips instead of reading a page of a book.
Karishma, who teaches in DPS school, says that nowadays the patience of children has reduced. If they don’t get an immediate answer to a question, they give up.
Get addicted to YouTube shorts and reels
Experts believe that what you see on the screen also affects your brain. YouTube shorts, Instagram reels and gaming apps increase the level of dopamine hormone in the brain, due to which you feel pleasure for some time, but later on this habit takes the form of addiction.
According to child psychologist Dr. Neha Kapoor, children’s brain gets used to this kind of happiness, due to which they get bored with the old methods of studying. This continuous simulation rewires the nerves of their brain, making it difficult to focus and deep thinking.
parents complaint
Parents of students complain that the phone, tablet or laptop purchased for online studies during Covid is now used more for playing games and watching videos than for studies.
They say that nowadays homework, research and school updates are also available online. They fear that their children may become too dependent on these devices.
Schools took these steps
Some schools are taking steps to reduce screen time among students. DAV Public School has started ‘No-Screen Friday’. During this time, students read stories, solve puzzles, or share what they learned throughout the week instead of any kind of screen exposure.
advice to parents
Parents are advised not to allow their children to look at devices while eating and before sleeping. Instead, children can improve their curiosity and focus through options like playing outside, writing a diary or sitting with the family and reading something.
The problem is not technology, but its excessive use. Dr. Kapoor says that parents and teachers should tell children about digital discipline.
In this growing digital world, the mental health of students does not suffer further, hence efforts should be made to bring back their attention through books or conversation.
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