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Navigating the Digital Babysitter: The Impact of Screen Time on Children

In the bustling capital of Windhoek, Namibia, the modern family faces a familiar dilemma: balancing the constant demands of parenting with the equally pressing needs of daily life. With work, household responsibilities, and personal commitments vying for attention, parents often turn to a readily available and seemingly harmless helper - screen time.
John van der Linde (Psychological Counsellor) - Today, digital devices serve as a contemporary pacifier, a means to alleviate a child's energetic spirit momentarily. But what are the implications of this digital distraction? As a psychological counsellor, I delve into the nuanced relationship between

screen time and child development, offering insight into the long-term impacts that may unfold far from the screen's glow.

The Digital Quandary

In our tech-savvy society, smartphones, tablets, and televisions have become ubiquitous, and with

them, the temptation to use screen time as a temporary childminder grows. It's a scene familiar to

many Windhoek parents: a child's restlessness is swiftly soothed by a cartoon's enchanting animations

or a mobile app's interactive world. Yet, this seemingly simple solution harbors complex consequences.

Understanding the Impact

The American Academy of Paediatrics’ recommends that children aged 2 to 5 be limited to one hour

of high-quality programming per day and that parents co-view media with children to help them

understand what they're seeing. But what happens when these guidelines are exceeded, as is often

the case when screens are used to keep children at bay?

Cognitive Development

Children's brains are highly malleable, experiencing rapid growth and development. Excessive screen

time can impede this process, potentially leading to issues with attention span, memory, and problem-

solving skills. Interactive screen time can be educational but must replace the rich learning experiences

of unstructured play and human interaction.

Physical Health

Screen time's sedentary nature contributes to a lack of physical activity among children, which can

lead to obesity and associated health risks. Moreover, staring at screens for extended periods can

result in eye strain and disrupt healthy sleep patterns, both critical elements for a child's physical well-

being.

Did you know?

Addictive

Children who spend too much time using online media can be at risk for a type of additive behavior called problematic internet use.

STATS

Negative impact of technology on children

1. Relationships and Social Skills Issues

2. Health Problems

3. Browsing Online Can Be Dangerous

4. Mobile Device Overuse Reduce Sleep Quality

5. Is Your Smartphone Affecting Your Relationship With Your Kids?

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Allgemeine Zeitung 2024-11-07

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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 698.14/OZ UP +1.28% | Copper US$ 4.41/lb UP +4.38% | Zinc US$ 3 071.00/T UP 0.28% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 76.16/BBP UP +0.87% | Platinum US$ 990.99/OZ UP +0.68% Sport results: Premier League: Fulham 2 vs 1 Brentford Weather: Katima Mulilo: 22° | 36° Rundu: 20° | 31° Eenhana: 21° | 31° Oshakati: 21° | 31° Ruacana: 20° | 31° Tsumeb: 19° | 26° Otjiwarongo: 18° | 23° Omaruru: 20° | 32° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Gobabis: 19° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 12:28, High tide: 06:39, Low Tide: 00:56, High tide: 18:52 Swakopmund: 15° | 18° Wind speed: 19km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:37, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:50 Walvis Bay: 15° | 24° Wind speed: 23km/h, Wind direction: W, Low tide: 12:26, High tide: 06:36, Low Tide: 00:54, High tide: 18:49 Rehoboth: 20° | 30° Mariental: 22° | 35° Keetmanshoop: 24° | 36° Aranos: 20° | 34° Lüderitz: 14° | 24° Ariamsvlei: 22° | 36° Oranjemund: 15° | 24° Luanda: 25° | 27° Gaborone: 19° | 27° Lubumbashi: 17° | 33° Mbabane: 13° | 24° Maseru: 12° | 25° Antananarivo: 14° | 30° Lilongwe: 22° | 29° Maputo: 19° | 26° Windhoek: 17° | 29° Cape Town: 17° | 22° Durban: 16° | 23° Johannesburg: 15° | 26° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 31° Lusaka: 20° | 31° Harare: 17° | 30° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 22.42 | EUR to NAD 18.69 | CNY to NAD 2.42 | USD to NAD 17.32 | DZD to NAD 0.13 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.25 | EGP to NAD 0.34 | KES to NAD 0.13 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.63 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.03 | RUB to NAD 0.18 | INR to NAD 0.21 | USD to DZD 132.78 | USD to AOA 909.05 | USD to BWP 13.4 | USD to EGP 49.22 | USD to KES 129.2 | USD to NGN 1680.41 | USD to ZAR 17.32 | USD to ZMW 27.07 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index Same 0 | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1858.03 Down -1.09% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 14296.93 Down -0.02% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 31045.26 Up +0.82% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI 9878.53 Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 698.14/OZ UP +1.28% | Copper US$ 4.41/lb UP +4.38% | Zinc US$ 3 071.00/T UP 0.28% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 76.16/BBP UP +0.87% | Platinum US$ 990.99/OZ UP +0.68%