How screens are changing children's brains
Brooke Cagle, Unsplash
During the fourth Children's Week in Luxembourg, adults were given a glimpse into the world of non-formal education: nurseries, children's clubs and youth centres across the country opened their doors. However, behind the colourful workshops and excursions, there is also a worrying question that parents and teachers are increasingly asking: how can we limit screen time and bring children back to live communication and movement?
Dr Dieter Braus, a German specialist in neurology, psychiatry and psychotherapy, gave a public lecture at the Lënster Lycée on Friday evening. His lecture was part of the official Children's Week programme.
According to Dr Braus, children's brains up to the age of 7-8 are physiologically unequipped to fully process digital information. Constant exposure to screens can cause anxiety, depression, behavioural disorders and even motor development difficulties in children. Yes, quality children's programmes or educational games can be useful, but only as a supplement to live experience: walking, drawing, playing with other children.
He emphasised that up to the age of 14, screen time should not exceed two hours a day - including TV, games, smartphones and the internet. Longer exposure to the digital environment increases vulnerability to mental health problems and impairs general wellbeing.
Braus paid attention not only to the duration, but also to the mode of gadget use. From his perspective, three for 30 minutes is much better than dozens of short phone checks throughout the day. It is the intermittent, restless use of devices that causes cognitive overload and increases stress, as well as FOMO - the fear of missing something.
Dr Braus concluded with an important message: only united and coordinated action by all adults - parents, teachers, educators - can develop healthy digital behaviour in children. If phones are banned at home and tablets are given out at school, children will get confused. If adults themselves are always on their screens, no bans will work.
