I understand giving kids a phone or tablet is sometimes the only way to give us parents a break. But it’s good to be aware of the consequences electronic devices can have on children’s developing brains.
The Risks: Dopamine Addiction
Neuroscientists have been studying the effects of electronic devices and social media on the brain for years. We now know spending time on our phones releases the feel-good hormone, dopamine. This is the same neurotransmitter that is released when we smoke, do drugs, drink, or gamble. In other words, it promotes addictions. With unlimited access to dopamine-producing devices, our children become hardwired to this stimulation. As they get a rush of dopamine after each Instagram like, notification, or text, they may become dependent on their devices for this instant gratification. fMRI imaging has demonstrated significant similarities between the brains of drug addicts and those of device-dependent people. In both groups, addiction has physically affected the regions of the brain that control attention, emotions, and decision-making.
Phone addiction is real. Both types of addicts are wired to look for quick rewards with minimal effort. This can explain why your child may lack patience or can’t focus on an effortful task like homework.
Solutions: Restricting Screen Time
I hope you understand now why we parents must intervene when it comes to our children using phones, tablets, computers, and other electronic devices.
Setting restrictions on how long your child can be on their phone or social media can not only help prevent dopamine addiction but also will help your child focus for longer periods. The ability to avoid distractions is among the top skills to teach kids nowadays.
Related article: Nature vs. Tech: Balancing Outdoor Play and Digital Learning
Solutions: Electronics-Free & Distraction-Free Spaces
To help prevent your children from becoming addicted to electronic devices, start by making sure the place where your child studies is free of electronic devices and other distractions. It is far more difficult to concentrate in a messy environment where distractions are just a click away.
As a survival instinct, our brains focus on unexpected movements and cluttered spaces to check if they are potential threats. We naturally scan our environment and too many objects and stimuli can impair our focus on a task like studying. With distractions, we aren’t able to carry out a task as effectively or well as we could’ve. The quality of our work decreases.
So keep your child’s room organized and free of devices so they can finish their homework properly. Ask them to clean out their desk or tell them to put their phone in another room. This can help your child get better grades and develop a good habit for their adult life. You should the same for your workspace.
Source:
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2021/aug/22/how-digital-media-turned-us-all-into-dopamine-addicts-and-what-we-can-do-to-break-the-cycle
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