Should Screen Time be Reduced for Kids?
“You know what…I am very happy today as now I am able to jog at a steady pace for 30 minutes effortlessly”, shared an exuberant Renu Sharma (Renu) as she settled at the dining table. She received an immediate applause from all others. Renu and her family were having a relaxed Saturday dinner with Sonali’s and Anju’s families.
Rajiv (Renu’s husband): Renu, you should take along ‘your son’ also for these jogging sessions every evening. He has become so lazy and chubby of late.
Renu: I wish, Rajiv… but he is never interested. Either he is on my mobile chatting with friends or watching some show on the tab or “trying to do” some school work. He is 8 years old now and should naturally be attracted to sporting activities. But it’s never been the case. Even when he is with friends, I see them just staring at some screen and the football is tucked under the arm. I do not understand this obsession for screens. Anyway…the food looks so sumptuous, let’s get started. But, where are the kids?
Sonali: Where else? All of them are glued to one or the other screen…They are watching some magic show right now on their tabs…
Renu: When these five kids are meeting after quite a while, shouldn’t they be playing rather than spending their time on these gadgets?
Anju: This has really become a menace…children nowadays cannot think of anything other than screens – be it the TV, tab, mobile or laptop. My 4 year old won’t eat till I play the show of her choice on the laptop.
Exhibits
Exhibit I: Top Four Findings on Kids and Gadget Use