Limiting screen time for children can lead to significant improvements in mental health, as revealed by doctors in the UAE. A study from the University of Southern Denmark showed a strong connection between reduced screen time and enhanced mental health in children. By reducing screen time to just three hours per week, experts noticed improvements in children’s behavior within two weeks. Typically, children spend up to seven to eight hours daily on entertainment activities, such as gaming and watching movies. Decreasing screen time has shown to make children more emotionally stable and enhances mood and behavior.
Dr. Ignatiius Edwin D’souza, a consultant pediatrician and chair of pediatrics and neonatology at Thumbay University Hospital, emphasized that reducing screen time can lower stress, improve sleep, and enhance mood and behavior. He also highlighted the importance of increasing family interactions through reduced screen time. Dr. D’souza recommended that parents make these adjustments gradually and be consistent and patient with their children during this transition period. Excessive screen time has been linked to behavioral issues, including heightened aggression and difficulty concentrating, along with physical problems like eye strain, headaches, and neck pain.
Children who spend too much time on digital devices may experience anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances due to blue light exposure affecting melatonin production. Excessive screen time can also lead to an overreliance on digital stimulation for dopamine hits, reducing the ability to find pleasure in non-digital activities. Psychomotor therapist Liliane Kantar of Aman Lil Afia Clinic Dubai pointed out that excessive screen time can lead to various challenges for children, including poor social skills, reduced cognitive ability, attention deficit, and health issues like obesity. Fostering healthy screen habits and monitoring screen time can make children more prosocial, thoughtful, and helpful to others, improving their relationships with peers and family members.
Dr. Shaju George, a specialist psychiatrist at International Modern Hospital Dubai, emphasized that reducing screen time can have an immediate positive impact, leading to better sleep patterns and improved relationships with friends and family. Setting clear limits on screen time, fostering healthy screen habits, and prioritizing real-life interactions are crucial for parents to ensure their children’s well-being. Girish Hemnani, an energy healer and life coach in Dubai, highlighted the benefits of a digital detox for children, such as improved sleep patterns, enhanced mood, increased focus, boosted creativity, and better social interaction skills. By implementing these positive changes, parents can help their children become healthier, happier individuals who are better equipped to navigate the world around them.
