Page 15 - RU Robert Wood Johnson Medicine • Summer 2020

n Michael Lewis, PhD
Tips for Parents
Dr. Jimenez suggests that parents evaluate the content that their children are
accessing. Ask:
n Does the content encourage interaction between the parent and child?
n Does it focus on developing academic skills, and if so, what types of skills?
n Does it enrich learning (for example, a video of a volcano that can’t be seen in person)?
n Is it taking away from other activities, such as playing outside, reading, taking part in sports, or doing things as a family?
n Will the child be exposed to advertising or other marketing messages?
“Asking these questions can trigger really impor- tant conversations between parents and children,” Dr. Jimenez says. “Consider common-sense limits on the quantity of screen time and focus on the quality of the content your child is consuming.”
Matthew D. Scharf, MD, PhD, assistant professor of medicine, recommends keeping phones out of the bedroom and limiting screen time at least an hour before bedtime. Another option is establishing screen-free zones in the house such as in the bed- room or at the dinner table. If your child uses his or her phone as an alarm, switching it to airplane mode will block all other alerts.
“Sleep is one of the most critical keys to long- term health and well-being,” says Dr. Scharf. “As a society, we have neglected our need for sleep, but we need to
view it as an
important
part of
general
health,
especially
for children.”
in equating the amount of screen use with children’s developmental delays.
“There is a difference of opinion within the field of developmental science about the impact of screen time on children’s development,” explains Dr. Lewis. “It’s more complicated than a simple yes or no answer about its effect on children’s intelligence and physical and mental health. Technology may impact physical health but not intelligence. There are conflicting data, so a clear picture of the advantages and disad- vantages isn’t available. We also need to discrim- inate between watching such programs as Sesame Street or Mister Rogers versus violent cartoons.”
Screen Time and Bedtime
One area where there is more consensus is the effect of screens on sleep quality. Research shows that the blue light emitted from screens can alter the brain’s circadian rhythm,
the body’s internal 24-hour sleep/wake clock. When a screen is used at night, the brain reads the light as a sign of daytime.
“Blue light is a concern because light is the most important cue for your body’s circadian
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