The Americans childDoctors have issued new recommendations for children's screen use in an effort to adapt to an ever-changing landscape of digital media use.
Η The American Academy of Pediatrics has rewritten its reflection on the use of digital media by children, giving parents more relaxed recommendations than those of the past.
More specifically, the academy took back its strict ban on screens for children aged 0 to two ετών, η οποία είχε τεθεί σε ισχύ από το 1999. Τώρα, η AAP αναγνωρίζει ότι ακόμα και τα πολύ μικρά παιδιά μπορούν να επωφεληθούν από ορισμένους τύπους οπτικών μέσων με οθόνη, αρκεί να επιβλέπονται από γονείς και κηδεμόνες. Μελέτες παρατήρησης δείχνουν ότι τα μωρά κάτω των 18 μηνών μπορούν να ενισχυθούν συναισθηματικά κάνοντας video chatting (όπως το Skype ή το FaceTime) συνομιλίες με συγγενείς μέσω video.
From 18 to 24 months, AAP says babies can now use digital media with educational content, in the presence of a parent or caregiver. AAP states that “due to immaturity of memory and attention skills, infants and young children can not be educated by traditional digital media alone.
Basically, kids at this age have a problem translating the content of a 2D screen into their 3D world. However, studies have found that children from the age of 15 months and over can learn from digital media if a parent is there with them, translating them and repeating what they see.
When AAP was asked why the new recommendation distinguishes children aged 18 to 24 months rather than 15 to 24 months, the Academy replied that most young children are knowledgeable from the age of 18 months to learn from monitors with the help of the parent .
The American pediatricians note that children between the ages of 2 and 5 may understand and acquire lessons from digital media. However, some evidence shows that excessive reliance on media can spoil children's sleep, as well as their sociability, language, and cognitive development, if they sit in front of the TV for hours. The AAP recommends setting a limit of one hour a day in front of a screen and provided that it is viewing “high-quality” content. quality". Again, the AAP recommends that parents and guardians should watch the screen with their children to help them.
For 6-year-olds and beyond, AAP again recommends limits on digital media, urging parents to check and make sure that time in front of a screen does not ruin a good night's sleep and other healthy habits. Finally, AAP suggests that parents should set the right example for healthy habits for digital media users.
