Psychiatrist and Father of 7 Shares Screen Time Advice

Published: October 28, 2024

Psychiatrist and Father of 7 Shares Screen Time Advice

By Movieguide® Contributor

Psychiatrist Dr. Richard Wadsworth knows all too well the negative effects of screen time. That’s why the father of seven puts limits on his children and encourages other parents to do the same.

“I restrict and regulate my children’s access to social media and the Internet because, based on my experiences with patients as a psychiatrist and research articles, I am convinced that there is a correlation and causal relationship between children’s access to social media and the Internet. The increased time a child spends on the Internet or on social media, the greater the risk of depression.” and causes increased anxiety,” he said. in question.

To create safe boundaries, she keeps laptops in a locker and only allows access when necessary. He also bans smartphones and only allows his children to have phones with calling and texting capabilities.

Wadsworth revealed that he allowed his children to watch YouTube during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, she noticed that her children were spending more time watching videos than playing outside. Realizing this was a problem, he took them outside and away from their screens.

Unfortunately, screens for children are ubiquitous these days.

“As my children got older, all of their friends started buying cell phones. “If you go to any public place, like schools, you’ll see all the kids looking at their phones all the time,” he explained.

A report from Consumer Affairs reveals “On average, children get their first phone at age 11.6.”

The study reports that “95% of teens ages 13-17 in the U.S. have access to a smartphone…(and) 97% of older teens (ages 15-17) are more likely to own a smartphone than their younger counterparts.” added.

Although resistant at first, Wadsworth’s children now know the value of the limits their parents set for them.

“Overall, my kids are proud that they don’t spend a lot of time on social media,” Wadsworth said. “I think because they’re not on as many platforms, they’re spending more time outside playing, reading, doing a lot of things that are healthier for them.”

The dangers of children spending excessive screen time are well documented.

Last month, JAMA Pediatrics conducted a study linking young children’s screen time to atypical sensory processing. They found that too much screen time can create sensory processing problems.

One of the authors of the JAMA study, Dr. “Sensory processing involves the integration of information received through the body’s sensory systems to perceive and understand the world around the individual,” said Karen Heffler and David Bennett.

READ MORE: IS IT REALLY THAT BAD FOR KIDS TO HAVE SCREEN TIME?

Mayo Clinic recommends Six tips to break your child’s screen time habit:

1. Be responsible.
2. Be realistic.
3. Be engaged.
4. Put handheld devices aside.
5. Create phone-free areas at home.
6. go out.

As parents, it is our duty to foster healthy relationships with technology in our children. Following Wadsworth’s example and getting the kids outside might be a good first step.