There are many dangers lurking, from misinformation to dependence on screens or social networks, in the current era of Internet and new technologies
Especially for the childrenParents should take on the role of mentors in order to show them not only the correct use of the internet and social networks, but also to protect them from habits that are harmful to themselves.
APE-MPE spoke with Maya Metaxopoulou, psychologist-psychotherapist at Line 11525 and the “Juntos pela Criança” Counseling Center, about good practices for using digital media, what parents and children should avoid, but also about how the time a child spends in front of a screen can be adequately limited.
How we can reduce our chances of exposure to online risks
“Children and adolescents’ involvement with new technologies and the Internet can offer many possibilities and opportunities for socialisation, entertainment and learning,” said Ms Metaxopoulou. She also noted that children adapt to the use of digital media in a largely harmonious and rapid manner. “Parents therefore need to balance, on the one hand, the need to protect themselves from the risks involved in using digital media and, on the other, to make the most of the possibilities and opportunities they offer,” she said.
Six basic steps
To ensure safe Internet browsing to a large extent, six basic steps are as follows, according to Ms. Metaxopoulou:
1) For young and school-age children (5-11 years old), it is recommended that the computer be located in a common area (e.g. living room) so that parents have the opportunity to supervise their child’s Internet use.
2) Surfing the Internet during certain times of the day when at least one parent or guardian is present.
3) Check the recommended age limits for online games, social networks and online videos.
4) Use parental control programs (blocking inappropriate websites, creating website filtering rules, setting internet access times).
5) Inform the child about the actions that need to be taken in case of exposure to risk (notify parents, take screenshots, block accounts, prosecute cybercrimes).
6) Familiarization of the tutor with all the applications that the child uses (games, social networks) in order to be able to convey to the child the rules of responsible and correct use.
How can we use our free time?
Summer holidays can be a big challenge for parents to make the most of. Screen time is the first and easiest solution. However, the summer months are an important opportunity for everyone to escape the routine of screen time, be it a mobile phone, computer or television.
Free time should be spent in terms of quality time in front of a screen, but also with activities that provide quality time with family.
“When it comes to ‘quality’ screen time, we mean films, series, videos and programmes that parents will watch together with their children and that will open up topics for conversation. This interaction between parents and children is more possible on shared screens, such as the TV and computer, than on personal screens, such as mobile phones and tablets,” said Ms Metaxopoulou.
What should be avoided, however, is leaving the TV on all day. “It is a particularly distracting stimulus and often also includes news and stressful images that parents will need to frame,” she noted.
Looking away from screens, summer is an excellent opportunity for outdoor activities. As the psychologist-psychotherapist said, sea bathing, hiking, trips to nearby destinations, summer cinemas, summer shows and visits to museums and archaeological sites are “excellent opportunities” for quality time with family and for creating happy memories.
In addition, simple bike rides, “classic” interactive games like hide-and-seek, and sports like soccer, basketball, volleyball, and dancing are activities that can bring joy and rejuvenation to all family members.
Of course, a basic alternative activity that can help reduce screen time remains reading a book. “It is important for parents to read stories to younger children and encourage older children by giving them books that are relevant to their age and interests,” Ms Metaxopoulou noted.
How long can a child stay in front of a screen?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is recommended:
– Avoid using media that includes screens until 18 months
– Up to 1 hour/day for ages 2 to 5 years
– Up to 2 hours/day for ages 6 to 12
From ages 2 to 12, schedules may be altered if screen time is needed to deal with school and learning obligations.
In particular for the child’s age (2-5 years), it is considered necessary that the child’s contact with digital media occurs in strictly determined and specific contexts (for example, a video call with a family member in which the screen will be away from the child, low brightness and reduced decibels).
In addition, it can be used to read a digital book (tablet) or to play a game at specific and fixed times of the day. In addition, it is necessary to avoid any form of screen time at least 1 hour before going to sleep.
How time limits are set
Limiting the amount of time children spend in front of screens (screen time) is becoming increasingly difficult in the age of new technologies and the digital world. As Ms Metaxopoulou said, a “hostile climate” is emerging for parents, who are called upon to set limits, while societies are evolving rapidly.
The most effective demarcation of screen time, according to her, requires:
- There must be harmony between parents.
- Safe space to express the child’s feelings and thoughts.
- Calm atmosphere of cooperation.
- Motivations and opportunities for children to move away from the screen:
1. Enroll the child in team sports
2. The cultivation of musical education
3. Shared activities outside the home
4. The child’s love of reading
5. Reduce the amount of time parents spend on their cell phones or computers
6. Surveillance by those responsible regarding the child’s emotional and social development.
The dangers of reckless use
For each age, depending on the stage of development the child is going through, the risks involved in the reckless use of screens and the internet are different, according to D. Metaxopoulou.
– During early childhood (0-5 years): A child’s brain undergoes rapid cognitive, social and emotional development. The quality of experiences during this period, including screen time, can affect critical processes such as language development, concentration and problem-solving. Direct human interaction is very important during early childhood.
– School age (6-12 years): Too much screen time can reduce the amount of time available for extracurricular activities, which are important for social and academic development. In addition, excessive screen time in children of this age group can reduce the quality and duration of sleep, which is linked to cognitive development.
– Teenagers (13-18 years old): They are also significantly affected by excessive screen time, especially in terms of mental health. There appears to be a strong link between high levels of screen use and symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescents. In particular, social media use can affect self-esteem and body image, contributing to psychological distress.
Source: RES-MPE