Electronics

This includes, smart phones, laptops, tablets, and computers. Let’s take a closer look at what these devices do to our children. When I was growing up, my parents were warned of the dangers of children watching too much television. I was often reminded not to sit too close to the screen and my mom would send me outside to play, when I had enough time watching television. Those same concerns are still real- too much time inside and not moving their bodies isn’t healthy for children. Not to mention some of the negative images television shows, commercials, and games represent. But now parents also need to deal with their children using electronic devices.

Our children are growing up in a world where using electronic devices is an everyday practice. They are learning to utilize computers in school to do research and write papers, at home they play games and talk to their grandparents through skype. Because of this, parents need to be aware of the dangers many electronic devices hold and find safer ways to allow their child to use this technology.

Here are some concerns of children’s extended use of technology:

• Fast moving games without educational benefits have been linked to addictive behavior, ADHD like behaviors, and problems sleeping.
• Aggressive games tend to teach aggressive behavior.
• Too much time on a device means less time outside in nature moving their bodies and getting their needed exercise.
• The blue light emitted by many devises messes with our pituitary gland causing sleep and hormone disturbances.

Now let’s look at the some other dangers associated with technology. Wireless devices use radio waves, a form of electromagnetic radiation. This is how they communicate with cell towers. Although the radio-frequency (RF) energy they give off is relatively weak and has long been presumed to be safe, there is increasing evidence which suggests that it may pose health hazards. In a study done by the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2011, RF energy was classified as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” another study published in Pathophysiology found that using a cell phone, especially before age 20, raised the risk of a certain type of brain tumor over time.

Cell phones carry the biggest potential danger because people tend to hold them up to their ear, close to the brain. Children are the most vulnerable to RF energy’s effects because their sculls are still developing, so the radiation is able to penetrate much deeper. When a kid holds a cell phone against their ear, they can absorb up to ten times more RF energy than an adult can.

Here are some safety tips:

• Limit your child’s technology use. Ensure there is a balance of outside time.
• Don’t use devices right before bed time. This has been linked to poor sleep.
• Place the device on a table or a pad which blocks RF energy.
• Use the cell phone’s speaker, so you do not need to place the phone near your child’s head.
• Monitor the games being used to ensure they are not aggressive and have an educational benefit.

Technology can be a great resources for learning but, we must use it wisely.