The Role Media Plays in Child Development

Week Eleven

After reading a book review of Dafna Lemish's: Children and Media A Global Perspective, I reflected upon the unpredictable consequence the internet has presented for childhood development across the world. The book suggests that although media can be an educational resource, the lack of censorship on the internet can create potentially ill developmental effects on children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has a website dedicated to educating the public on creating an optimal physical, mental, social health, and well-being of children. Their Council on Communications and Media presents suggestions for optimal media use for the health of developing children through young adulthood. They suggest that monitored use on certain learning devices can be beneficial, yet overuse can create sleep, developmental, and overall physical health concerns. As stated, “An earlier age of media use onset, greater cumulative hours of media use, and non-PBS content all are significant independent predictors of poor executive functioning in preschoolers.” But they also indicate that the largest predictor in outcomes of media use involves the quality of parenting the children are receiving. “Toddlers with social-emotional delays are more likely to be given a mobile device to calm them down.” The interruptive and obsessive role parents play with their personal mobile devices is associated with less social interactions with their children. Less interactions equates to fewer verbal and nonverbal learning opportunities. This modeling behavior can create children to have similar obsessive habits.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has general suggestions for time limitations on digital media for children two-five years of age to be limited to one hour per day. They recommend creating healthy media plans for the holistic development of families. In addition, they encourage parents to use educational and prosocial content when entertaining their children with technology. They also recommend no screens during meal times or one hour before bedtime. This will appropriate children to benefit from of what they are viewing, while allowing them to develop into healthy young adults.

References:

https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/Pages/About-the-AAP.aspx