A study published in Pediatrics in 2010 found a correlation between the amount of time spent viewing TV and playing video games and subsequent attention problems in adolescence. The authors recommend adding TV and video games to the discussion on attention problem risk factors.
The abstract of this study can be found here.
Cris Rowan is a pediatric occupational therapist, biologist, author, international speaker passionate about changing the ways in which children use technology. Rowan’s expertise includes detrimental impact of screens on child brain/body development, behavior and learning. Rowan’s website is reconnectwebinars.com (with > 400 research references on Fact Sheet in Resource section), blog is movingtolearn.ca and book is “Virtual Child.”
Every time we connect with a screen, we disconnect from the humans who surround us. The screen becomes an interface prohibiting human connection, and consequently should be considered an ‘anti-social’ device…
The recent release of the US Surgeon General’s report Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation cited both social media and video games as causal factors for the alarming rise in isolation, loneliness and mental illness.
The word ‘social’ is defined as related to or designed for sociability. ‘Social media’ is defined as media created for the purpose of communication and includes You Tube, WhatsApp, Instagram…