Children and smartphones: how to behave

Is it right for children to use cell phones from an early age? And what is the right age to play with their first phone? Furthermore, what are the risks of giving in to a fad, a habit, and allowing children to follow the example of adults, becoming prisoners of their cell phones ? These are questions that circulate in many homes, in many families, and even in many schools.

How much do children use the Internet and smartphones?

These are questions that cross the minds of even the pioneers of the digital revolution , so much so that employees of technology companies, despite living practically in symbiosis with smartphones , are quick to swear that their primary family imperative is to prevent their children from abusing their phones. A commitment that Steve Jobs, the father of the iPhone, has repeatedly expressed, who is said to have imposed very strict restrictions on his children to ensure they had a balanced technological diet . And it is also pervasive in his successor at Apple, Tim Cook, who has repeatedly stated: "I don't want people spending too much time with their iPhone in their hands." A result that, however, must not be achieved with rigid rules but with flexible education.

Harms of excessive smartphone use among children

According to the Italian pediatricians' association, Italy leads Europe in cell phone use, and the average age of owners is continually declining. We're moving from overuse to overuse . This is why experts recommend trying to delay the use of this device among young children as much as possible . Even in America, the scientific community is clearly moving toward the red line, that of a ban. According to data from Save the Children, 78 percent of children between the ages of 11 and 13 and 44,6 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 10 use the Internet every day in Italy. This takes away time from friends, outdoor play, sports, and reading.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Pediatrics, for example, maintain that children aged 0 to 2 should not be exposed to technology at all , while children aged 3 to 5 should be exposed to a maximum of one hour a day . Finally, children aged 6 to 18 should spend no more than two hours a day using smartphones and tablets . Current statistics, however, show a completely different story: children and adolescents spend the equivalent of four days a month with their cell phones in their hands. For this reason, it's necessary to establish some rules , which may be difficult for your children to digest at first, but which will allow you to avoid these risks in the long run:

• Inability to concentrate. Numerous studies show that technology subjects us to an excessive number of stimuli which prevent us from paying attention to a single thing for a long time. This tendency in children is multiplied by their natural hyperactivity and Curiosity and has a negative impact on a brain that is still developing.
• Damage to eyesight. The vast majority of smartphones subject our eyes overexposure to blue light. This type of lighting, typical of touchscreens, can cause retinal damage. The risks are obviously greater in children.
• Excessive use puts social relationships at riskInteraction with other children, when young, plays a fundamental role in the correct development of character. According to several experts, using smartphones before the age of 13 would steal time, both real and mental, from game and interaction with others.
• Too much technology makes them more impulsiveNumerous studies have shown that overexposure to cell phones, tablets, and television in a developing brain can cause cognitive delays, including learning disabilities, leading to increased impulsivity, which can lead to outbursts of anger.
• Obesity risk. Excessive use of cell phones, but also of TV and video game consoles, causes a dramatic increase in sedentary lifestyles to the detriment ofphysical activityThis problem is particularly acute overseas, given that one in four Canadian children, and one in three in the United States, is obese.
• Sleep deprivation. The vast majority of children have a technological device in their bedroom, and many parents fail to monitor their children's use of it after the lights are turned off. Too often, little ones are distracted by social media or cell phone games until late at night, which prevents them from sleeping. It's important to remember that Rest is essential in growth paths.
• Techno addicts. Many of our children are literally glued to their smartphones. Excessive use has caused them to become truly dependent, so much so that when their cell phone runs out of battery or is unusable, they develop a feeling of confusion, as if they were missing a part of themselves.
• Beware of radiationIn May 2011, the World Health Organization classified cell phones (and other wireless devices) as a Category 2B risk (potentially carcinogenic) due to their radiation emissions. Furthermore, children are more susceptible to this risk and therefore more at risk. For this reason, it is important to try to avoid exposure as much as possible.
• Anxious children. Often it is the parents themselves who encourage the use of cell phones: 'call me as soon as you need me', 'give me a ring as soon as you arrive'. In this way, children experience the use of the P. In an anxiety-inducing way. In reality, we must force ourselves to remember that the smartphone is primarily a communication tool and should be used only when necessary.
• Mom and dad must set a good example. The best way to educate is with the right behavior. For this reason, if you want your children to learn to use their smartphones sparingly, do it first, especially in their presence.

Children and Smartphones: Pediatricians' Guidelines

• No smartphones or tablets before the age of two.
• Prohibit the use of electronic devices of any kind at the table and before going to bed.
• Don't turn your smartphone into a babysitter or a constant companion for your child.
• Accompany children in the first years of using these devices.
• Maximum one hour a day between 2 and 5 years old.
• Maximum two hours a day between 5 and 8 years old.
• Don't set a bad example for children by compulsively using smartphones at home.
• The cell phone should not replace the games and fun shared with parents, and it cannot be a sort of consolation for the child.

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