Neha Sharma
Parents have always worried about their children. Earlier, it was about scraped knees, late hours outside, or falling in with the wrong crowd. Today, the concern has shifted dramatically to screen time. The worry is no longer just about grades but about gadgets.
Parents these days are not worried about their children not scoring high in class but are more concerned about their obsession with their mobile phones. They want them to put it down, observe the world around them and truly learn.
From attention span to sleep quality, from curiosity to nourishment, everything seems affected. Children today are growing increasingly dependent, fatigued, and distracted. And the biggest culprit? Excessive screen time.
Many children these days who’ve had excessive screen exposure in their early years get caught in virtual autism, where children stop responding to names, delay speech, and show signs of developmental regression. The good news is it can be prevented with timely action. But once it sets in, therapy becomes necessary, and recovery depends on how severe the condition is.
A 2024 study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) revealed that 76% of school-going children in urban India reported symptoms such as eye strain, headaches, or disturbed sleep due to excessive screen use. A sedentary lifestyle is also on the rise, contributing to weight gain, low stamina, anxiety, and early signs of depression.
But this isn’t just a health crisis. It’s now an educational one. Teachers report significant differences in attention span, curiosity, and classroom engagement between children with excessive screen exposure and those without.
Students these days aren’t worried about deep learning. They’re multitasking constantly, scrolling reels, replying to messages, posing, and posting for social media — all while studying. They’re relying more on summaries than on reading books. The real concern isn’t what they learn, but how much they retain.
It’s time to unplug, not by rejecting technology but by finding a healthy balance. Mindful screen time is the solution we need.
Parents can start with small but impactful changes, such as encouraging light physical exercise, morning meditation, and even journaling. Children need undisturbed spaces to read, reflect, and explore. Yet, we’re caught in a paradox advocating for less screen time while pushing digital classrooms. Rather than eliminating screens, we must teach children to build healthy digital boundaries.
We need to revive some traditional activities, such as parents taking small but meaningful steps to encourage outdoor play, hobbies, and family conversations—a day a Week for social engagements for children.
This shift towards mindful use of technology can help improve attention span, bring back an alert mind, and foster a more curious child.
In this world where children need to stay connected and compete in the digital world. Children are losing touch with their health; their learning potential is harmed. Parents and educators need to collaborate to work on mindful use of technology. We need to guide them to calm down, think, restore, and create a balance. In a healthy child and a well-rested mind, learning flourishes, and there is a promise for tomorrow. |
