Screen Free Week
Researchers have found that "limiting children's screen time may be important for ensuring children's future health and well-being."
National Screen Free Week is April 30 - May 6 2012 - a great time to evaluate how you can best manage screens in your home for your family's optimal health.
"Babies are born with 100 billion neurons in their brains, ready for connecting-and are 'hard wired' by age 6. Connections are made through hands on, sensory rich, relationship based interactions. Screen use is a passive brain activity, displacing the growth of rich neural connections necessary for all future learning. Even whiny boredom is a better place for a child to be!
"Help! Does less screen time mean I need to entertain my kids more?" No. Stimulating experiences include parental involvement AND time to read, pick dandilions, mindlessly stir their cereal, stack blocks, talk to themselves, negotiate with siblings (well, that might need your attention), listen to music, toss a ball, draw, sit, daydream...
Reaserach shows the kids with 2 or more hrs of daily screen time (TV, computer, video games, hand-held devices) are more likely to have increased psychological difficulties, including hyperactivity, emotional and conduct problems, as well as difficulties with thier peers.
Adolescents who watch 3 or more hrs of TV daily are at especially high risk for poor homework completion, negative attitudes toward school, poor grades, and long-term academic failure. Boys who spend more time playing video games spend less time on after-school academic materials, and have lower reading and writing scores.Academic success is essential-problem solving, critical thinking skills, perseverance, creative thinking--all are best grown through hands on, sensory rich, relationship based experiences."
Alice Hanscam, PCI Certified Parent Coach
Denali Parent Coaching
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