StudyCentre

Researchers have found “different patterns” in brain scans among children who record heavy smart device and video game use. The first wave of information from the $300 million National Institute of Health (NIH) study is showing that 9-and-10-year-old kids spending more than seven hours a day using such devices show signs of premature thinning of the cortex, the brain’s outermost layer that processes sensory information.

The NIH data also showed that kids who spend more than two hours a day on screens score worse on language and reasoning tests. The academy now recommends parents avoid digital media use — except video chatting — in children younger than 18 to 24 months. Tips from Heart Care Foundation of India:

• Instead of giving them a phone to keep them busy, spend some time interacting with them and talking to them.
• Put computers or TVs in shared spaces. This way it will be easier to keep track of their usage and limit screen time.
• Devote a few hours in a day to zero screen time for the entire household.
• If, as parents, you devote a lot of time on devices, children will follow suit. Be a positive role model for them.
• Meal times should be free from screens and a time for the family to sit together and eat. Make this a practice.
• Ensure that the children spend sufficient time in outdoor activities.