Research indicates that the overuse of gadgets can have negative impacts on a child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development. Many parents, especially younger ones, are increasingly aware of the detrimental effects that excessive gadget usage has on the development of their children Knowledge of this is driving many parents to explore alternatives to electronic gadgets to keep children engaged. In this post, we highlight the adverse effects increased screen time has on children and offer creative and fun alternatives for improved child development.

Let’s first explore the issues associated with excessive use of gadgets and identify why it is necessary to limit children’s exposure to screens. Studies indicate that children between the ages of 8 and 18 years spend an average of 7.5 hours in front of screens in a day. [1] The numbers are worse during school vacations since many parents allow their children to spend more time on activities involving screens to keep them occupied and to prevent interruptions, especially if the parents are working from home. This increased exposure to screens can have the following detrimental effects:

• Spending most of their free time on screens can prevent children from developing healthy social relationships. The more time they spend playing video games or watching cartoons, the lesser they engage in face-to-face interactions, which impedes necessary socialization. [2]
• Increased screen time affects sleep patterns. The blue light emitted from screens may severely affect the duration and quality of sleep, both of which are important factors in child development. [3]
• The decrease in physical activity affects all aspects of child development. It causes problems to physical health, like unhealthy weight gain and improper posture, and can also cause behavioral issues. [4]
• Increased screen time increases the risk of children being exposed to harmful content and unsafe interactions. [5]
• Spending most of their leisure time on screens decreases the amount of time children spend on activities that stimulate their brains, like reading. This affects their brain volume, an indicator of intelligence, and slows down language development. [6]

Creative and fun alternatives to screen time

Clearly, decreasing the time children spend in front of screens can have several benefits to child health and development. Spending time on stimulating activities can increase their attention span and concentration.[7] It can lead to better communication, improved time management skills, and foster better mental health.[8] A few such alternatives are listed below with their potential benefits:

Outdoor Activities

• Physical Activities
• Physical activities not only keep children away from gadgets but it is also extremely beneficial for a child’s physical health and fitness. [9] It allows children to develop life-defining qualities, such as a healthy attitude towards physical health and sportsmanship. Moreover, physical fitness directly influences good mental health by improving impulse control and decreasing aggression. [10] Physical activities can include anything, from a game of basketball and a dancing session in one’s own living room to a scavenger hunt in the backyard, as long as it keeps children active. [11]
• Building a relationship with nature
• Introduce children to activities like gardening that can build a greater respect for nature in them. Building vegetable patches and planting flower seeds will help them develop a green life skill and also teach them important lessons about food production. [12] Taking nature hikes with children is another way of educating them about the flora and fauna in their local ecosystem and keep them connected to nature. Building a healthy relationship with nature is beneficial for all persons, irrespective of age, as it allows one to switch off from the gadget, heal, and use the grounding energy to inculcate mindfulness.
• Spending time at cultural institutions
• Cultural institutions like museums, galleries, and libraries are vital knowledge resources that can stimulate a child’s curiosity. Taking children to such institutions can not only keep them away from screens but can also provide fun opportunities for them to discover and explore their interests. [13]

Indoor Activities

• Arts and crafts
• Art and craft projects are great outlets for children’s creativity. For instance, introducing kids to creative writing, like poetry, is a way to foster a love for literary arts in them. As for craft projects, the diverse range of home kits available these days ensures that projects do not have to be restricted to coloring books and clay modeling anymore. From paper-mâché and jewelry making kits to glass painting and scrapbooking kits, there are several varieties of crafty activities to keep children engaged. [14] Such activities enable cognitive and behavioral development, even if they are a bit messy!
• Puzzles and Board games
• Puzzles and board games are creative and fun activities for families to enjoy and bond . Board games like Monopoly, Life, and Scrabble are great at teaching children to strategize, help improve their memory, and provide opportunities to engage in some friendly competition. [15] Puzzles help build patience in children and getting siblings to do them together boosts their capacity for teamwork.
• Reading
• Introducing children to reading at young ages helps with intellectual development and forms the foundations for a lifelong habit that will contribute to their learning patterns. Developing a reading habit at a young age broadens perspectives and builds a knack for critical thinking in children. It equips them to question and evaluate new information, boosts their basic general knowledge, and improves vocabulary. Taking frequent trips to the library so that they can explore themes that interest them and building a cozy reading nook with blankets and string lights are ways in which to help inculcate this habit in them. [16]
• Collections
• Getting children to invest time in collecting items that interest time is another way to nurture their curiosity while keeping them off screens. Be it seashells, coins, stamps, or action figures, motivating them to engage in collecting can help them develop a lifelong passion and keep them engaged. [17]
• Helping around the house
• Allowing children to help around the house, especially during the holidays , can keep them engaged and lighten the parents’ load. This can involve tasks like washing dishes, handling the laundry, and maintaining tidiness in the house. They can also be allowed to help with cooking and baking, which could ignite a passion for culinary arts in them. To motivate children to engage in these tasks, parents can give them a small allowance or even reward them by cooking their favorite dish! Involving kids in completing household chores will help build a sense of community around these tasks and increase their respect for these seemingly mundane tasks. [18] It also helps build a sense of responsibility in children and is a great habit to develop when young.

Most of the activities described above require the active participation of a parent, which is not consistently feasible, given that most parents work full-time these days. For working parents, some screen-free ways to keep their children engaged could be:

• Invest in an outdoor play area or an indoor crafts corner [19]. These could be areas of the house specifically designed for children to play in and, therefore, be safe by default. With such dedicated areas, parents need just check on the children from time to time, which is easier for parents who work from home.
• Design art projects that children can complete on their own. This could be anything from a 100-piece puzzle to getting them to paint their idea of a portrait. Once the project is complete, parents can sit with their children and discuss it and, thereby, spend quality family time together.

Ultimately, reducing your child’s exposure to screens is mostly about being firm in your decision to do so and inculcating healthier habits at a young age. Many a time, parents may not have the time or energy to actively involve in some of the activities mentioned in this post with their children. In such instances, getting children to develop a reading habit and boosting this with a good home library might be all the solution you need. At the end of the day, keeping children off screens does not require parents to constantly come up with creative or inventive ideas. Sometimes, simple steps, such as taking kids to the supermarket with them or asking kids to crack eggs for them, are enough to do the deed. Parents may have to tolerate some messes and manage a few crying episodes, occasionally, but the benefits of limiting children’s exposure to screens are worth the trouble.

Article by: Nasreen Basheer, Intern (Batch 2022)
With inputs from Team Bodhini