People often ask me about the medical risks that all this screen time is having on our kids—such as the development of eyesight problems or tendonitis. I get emails from ophthalmologists who are convinced that nearsightedness is increasing, but so far there are no long-term studies to say anything definitively. One thing studies do show is that plenty of time outside is needed to prevent nearsightedness.
People who spend long hours with computers, video game controllers, cellphones and the like are at higher risk of developing musculoskeletal pains which can develop in the neck, shoulders, thumbs, wrists, elbows and lower back. In a study of college students with very high cell phone use (vs. those with low usage), ultrasounds found that the group with high usage had enlarged median nerves and this was associated with causing more thumb pain.
There is no denying that screen time is coming into classrooms at a faster and faster rate and this has many people, including myself, concerned about how this will affect our kids' physical health—both in the short and long term. So what can we do to prevent strain and pain from tech use? It is one thing to know information and quite another to change behavior. I tell my medical students that the hardest (and most rewarding) thing you will do is to help people to make lasting behavior changes.
For this TTT let’s talk about physical health and screen time. Also, let's talk about what health information we have received in the past that has or has not changed our behaviors.
March 21, 2017
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
People often ask me about the medical risks that all this screen time is having on our kids—such as the development of eyesight problems or tendonitis. I get emails from ophthalmologists who are convinced that nearsightedness is increasing, but so far there are no long-term studies to say anything definitively. One thing studies do show is that plenty of time outside is needed to prevent nearsightedness.
People who spend long hours with computers, video game controllers, cellphones and the like are at higher risk of developing musculoskeletal pains which can develop in the neck, shoulders, thumbs, wrists, elbows and lower back. In a study of college students with very high cell phone use (vs. those with low usage), ultrasounds found that the group with high usage had enlarged median nerves and this was associated with causing more thumb pain.
There is no denying that screen time is coming into classrooms at a faster and faster rate and this has many people, including myself, concerned about how this will affect our kids' physical health—both in the short and long term. So what can we do to prevent strain and pain from tech use? It is one thing to know information and quite another to change behavior. I tell my medical students that the hardest (and most rewarding) thing you will do is to help people to make lasting behavior changes.
For this TTT let’s talk about physical health and screen time. Also, let's talk about what health information we have received in the past that has or has not changed our behaviors.
March 21, 2017
As well as our weekly blog, we publish videos like this one every week on the Screenagers YouTube channel
The Pew Research Center recently released findings from a study conducted in the Fall of 2023, which has important stats that can help inform our parenting and spark essential conversations with our youth. I’ve structured today’s blog to state the findings first and then write about the solutions later.
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I have one goal with this week’s blog: Inspire you to make one and only one New Year’s Resolution about screen time rules. Maybe that has to do with your own behavior with screen time, maybe with your kids, family, or even work. And I’ll share with you my one-screen time rule for 2024.
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A few weeks ago I wrote a blog and encouraged people to share with youth in their lives whatever small change they made and to share with me as well so that I could share with you! And that is what I am doing today. I received some great responses. Here are a few examples people shared with me:
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
