According to the research carried out by San Diego State University and led by Dr Jean Twenge, from the department of psychology, children who spend hours playing on phones, tablets or video game consoles are more at risk of ‘insufficient sleep’. The study found that youngsters under ten who get four or more hours of ‘portable electronic device’ screen time a day are twice as likely to miss out on shut-eye. Once they spend more time on screens, they spend less time on sleep.
Due to electronic devices affecting sleep, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Canadian Paediatric Society and the Australian Department of Health all advise children have no more than two hours of screen time a day. But, the increase in technology and the invention of more portable electronic devices may not allow this advice to fly. The smaller screens of portable devices also mean children often hold them closer to their faces. Phones and tablets emit a blue light that suppresses the production of the ‘sleep hormone’ melatonin, which is more pronounced the closer you sit to the screen.
It seems the effects are worse with portable electronic devices than by just watching TV or using a computer. The likes of mobile phones, tablets, iPods, etc. are also easy for children to hide from their parents. This means youngsters can secretly watch ‘highly-arousing’ footage, such as violent or sexual clips without their parents or older siblings knowing what’s going on. These portable electronic devices are not bad, but their use must be carefully monitored when it has to do with youngsters.
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