I recently received this email from a worried parent: “Dr. Dixie, technology causes constant contention with my teenagers. Cell phones make it easier to sync our schedules, but it seems I’m always talking to the top of their heads while they stare at their phones! When I insist they put the phones down, there’s an argument. I just want to “unplug” sometimes! Where do I even start?”
A Kaiser Family Foundation Survey found that many children spend nearly eight hours daily using electronic devices— often more time than they spend sleeping! Watching TV takes up an astounding average of six hours daily for adults and four for teens. This doesn’t include smartphone and tablet time. About 25 percent of 3-year-olds and half of 5-year-olds go online daily on some electronic device. Parents are often equally immersed in internet, social networking and texting. Our world is so closely connected electronically that we can know instantly about any event at almost any place and time. This has exponentially intensified anxiety in adults, teens and children.
Experts recognize the increasing relational and emotional stress created by excessive media usage. Dr. Victor Strasburger, American Academy of Pediatrics, says, “Media overexposure is particularly detrimental to children; increasing hyperactive and aggressive behavior, interest in drugs, alcohol and smoking at a younger age, earlier sexual activity, obesity, and poor school performance.”
Technology is here to stay, and provides many benefits. Thinking we should or can eliminate it altogether isn’t realistic. However, we can monitor and wisely restrict media usage. Limits won’t necessarily make you popular with your teens, but as they mature, the benefits will become evident. Remember, the goal is not to be your teen’s best friend— you’re the parent!
A 1960’s public service announcement asked, “It’s 10:00 pm. Do you know where your children are?” Now we need to ask, “It’s midnight. Do you know what your children are doing?” If children have access to electronic devices in their rooms, they’re likely awake, using a computer, iPod, cell phone, tablet or TV without supervision.
Occasional fast food convenience quickly became a permanent lifestyle for busy families in the 1950’s. Time has proven the junk food lifestyle cripples and kills thousands each year: heart disease, type-2 diabetes and many cancers are a direct result of an unhealthy diet. The sedentary lifestyle encouraged by electronics overuse is adding to those dire health consequences as we see a clear connection to ADHD, obesity and anxiety, leading to depression.
Some evidence that a family is excessively plugged in: children spending most of their “spare” time with TV, video games, texting or Snap-chatting. multiple TVs throughout the house are usually on simultaneously. there’s a sense of helplessness without a cell phone.
1 If this sounds familiar, a media diet will certainly benefit your family. “Good things happen when you scale back your media use,” says Tom Cooper, PhD, author of How to Clear Your Mind and Invigorate Your Life in an Age of Media Overload. “Your family will become closer, you’ll save time, sleep better, feel healthier, and probably even lose weight.”
If technology is adversely affecting communication in your family, a media journal is a good place to begin reducing screen time. Dieters track food consumption to know what and where to cut back. Beginning a family media diet by tracking usage can be quite an eye-opener. We’re often unaware how much time we spend on the internet, TV, and texting. Keeping a record of when a device being used and for how long, will give each one a better idea of how time is being spent. After logging for five days, decide as a family how you can spend more time engaging without screens.
Infinite Grace Ministries is determined to recover and rebuild families. Call 580-774-2884 to learn how to reduce technology-time, giving you more time to enjoy God, your spouse and children.
