In today's digital age, smartphones, tablets, and other electronic screen devices have become an indispensable part of our lives, especially for teenagers, who use them as primary platforms for entertainment, learning, and socializing. However, with the continuous increase in screen time, a series of problems have emerged, such as internet addiction, mental health issues, and physical developmental disorders. These problems not only affect children's daily lives but also pose potential threats to their future growth. Technological advancements have undoubtedly brought great convenience to our lives, but for children, this convenience is often accompanied by significant hidden dangers.
The Impact of Electronic Screens on Children
Association between Screen Time and Composite Cardiometabolic Risk
Results showed that for every additional hour of screen time, children's composite cardiovascular metabolic risk scores significantly increased (P=0.021), and the increase was even more pronounced in adolescents (P=0.001).
Moderating Effect of Sleep Duration
Sleep duration significantly moderated the association between screen time and cardiovascular metabolic risk in both cohorts (childhood: P=0.029; adolescence: P=0.012). Specifically, the association between screen time and cardiovascular metabolic risk was stronger in children and adolescents with shorter sleep duration.
Association of Screen Time with Other Cardiovascular-Related Indicators
Studies have confirmed a positive correlation between screen time and cardiovascular metabolism and cardiovascular disease risk in children and adolescents, and this association was more significant in the group with shorter sleep duration. This finding emphasizes that screen time and sleep patterns should be considered simultaneously when assessing early risk factors for cardiovascular metabolism and cardiovascular health in children and adolescents.
Strategies for Reshaping Self-Control and Healthy Habits
Set Reasonable Screen Time Limits:
Parents should work with their children to establish rules for screen time use, clearly defining the time periods and durations during which electronic devices can be used each day, and strictly enforce these rules. At the same time, encourage children to spend more time on outdoor activities, reading, artistic creation, and other activities beneficial to their physical and mental well-being. By balancing screen time with real life, help children establish healthy lifestyle habits.
Cultivate Diverse Interests:
Encourage children to explore and cultivate a variety of interests, such as sports, music, painting, and programming. Diverse interests not only enrich children's lives but also promote the development of different areas of the brain, enhancing their creativity and problem-solving abilities. Meanwhile, these activities often require a significant investment of time and energy, which helps reduce children's dependence on electronic devices.
Enhance Parent-Child Interaction and Communication:
Parents should increase their time spent interacting with their children, participating in activities such as games, reading, and cooking together. Through face-to-face communication and interaction, parent-child relationships are strengthened, enhancing children's emotional security and sense of belonging. Parents can also use this opportunity to understand their children's inner world and promptly identify and address any potential difficulties or problems they may be facing.
Set a Good Example:
Parents' own behavior has a profound impact on children. Therefore, parents should set a good example, controlling their own screen time and avoiding excessive use of mobile phones or other electronic devices in front of their children. Through their own exemplary behavior, parents can guide children to understand the importance of using electronic devices healthily.
Conclusion
In today's rapidly developing technological world, we need to pay more attention to children's physical and mental health and developmental needs, guiding them to develop healthy habits and improve self-control through scientific methods. Only in this way can we ensure that children grow up healthily in the screen age and become responsible and creative pillars of the future.