It al started after we lost our remote control from the TV (I did not hide it this time).
Kids could not watch TV though we still had access to a DVD player.
I noticed that after one or two days of realizing there will be no TV, they started playing so much better! So much creativity, better concentration, they can go for hours just playing, reading books, getting outside, running around.. Once in a while, they would start asking for cartoons but overall much less than before. (by the way, I started feeling so much better emotionally, physically after I got rid of my two smart phones, here is the article )
Have you heard about blue light that is emitted from the white LED lights in computers, ipads, smart phones, TVs, and other devices? It goes through the retina of an eye and has an effect on dopamine levels. More dopamine = more dependency, more craving of something.
Here is a great podcast from Roman and Bogdana about it and much more (highly recommend it to all the parents):
Trying to understand this issue more, I did stumble upon this helpful website - BLOCK BLUE LIGHT.
https://www.blockbluelight.com/blogs/news/blue-light-and-kids-development
There they go into details with studies and observations what blue light does to children’s brains and overall health.
One of the most astonishing things were:
In 2017, the Australian Child Health Poll discovered some more shocking stats. It found that a third of preschool children, two-thirds of primary school children, and almost all teenagers owned their own smartphone or tablet.
Teenagers were found to spend the most time in front of a screen – television, computer, laptop, gaming device, smartphone or tablet – than any other age group. They averaged almost 44 hours per week, which translates to 6 hours or more per day!
Now it is even higher!
NOTE all these devices emit blue light!
So besides of EMF (electromagnetic radiation) of devices, their fast moving images, etc, it is also a constant nonstop BLUE LIGHT.
It disrupts their sleep, it can affect their mental health, their development, contribute to weight gain and poor eye sight just to name a few of the detrimental effects (short term, we do not even know long term)
The article does give some very practical advice about how to start caring for our children more by not allowing so much of the destructive blue light into their eyes, and brains.
One of the recommendations is to wear the protective Blue light blocking glasses.
By the way, I got them for myself too as my eyes were always hurting post using the computer and my sleep started to be affected too.
After using them only for one day, I started feeling much better. Eyes do not hurt and sleep has improved. Kids now are wearing them too if watching any DVDs (I cut the time of screen time too, only 20, max 30 min a day). No other devices to be used.
I got my glasses from this company
https://lowbluelights.com/
(no affiliation with the company)
There are many others too.
Please, read through this article:
https://www.blockbluelight.com/blogs/news/blue-light-and-kids-development
There are many great recommendations
What is the conclusion?
Go Amish!
(just kidding,. Though some days it seems to be the best solution :)
We are thrown into this technology world without even fully understanding how it affects us and children. So little by little we need to start educating ourselves and helping children navigate through this modern world too!
it is unfair that these warnings are not on the boxes in big letters for any electronic devices so we have to search and question ourselves!
it is never to late make changes to improve health of our families!
Wish you all health and wellness!