Dhruv Nath, a class KG student of a West Delhi School, wakes up around 8 am and, an hour later, sits on the couch with his mother in front of the computer for his online classes. He is in front of the screen till noon attending online classes, creative sessions and then getting homework.

The daily routine of Pihu Chand, a class 10 student of a prestigious Mumbai School, is no less different. She too sets herself in front of her laptop at 9 am everyday and has regular classes till noon and sometimes beyond. She then spends her evening in front of the screen completing her studies and assignments.

The COVID-19 Lock down has brought a surge in online learning and digital media. Not only are parents and teachers using the latest technology, children as young as 3 years of age, are being forced to sit in front of the screen for online classes every day. Since schools are shut due to the lockdown, learning from home is the new norm.

As a parent you might be worried that this excessive screen time could cause an addiction in the lives of your children. Checking out one online learning video on YouTube could turn into watching another one and then another. Time on the playground is now spent playing video games and watching online videos. Before you know it; children and even parents can easily turn into binge watching and in a blink of an eye turn into couch potatoes. Top e-learning companies have left no stones unturned to offer the best of learning experiences to children. Parents are on the lookout for downloading the best apps for their child so that their child is not left behind in their curriculum when schools do reopen.

Parents claim that screens are very helpful in keeping the kids entertained and engaged because many of the parents too are working from home in the lockdown. But increased screen time for children as young as 3 years and even older kids can cause:

• Poor eyesight
• Decreased metabolism
• Insomnia or disturbance in sleep pattern
• Behavioral changes like less likely to be social, easily distracted, lesser attention span
• Depression

We live in a world where there is no such thing as ‘no-screen-time’. While online learning is the need of the hour and it is imperative that we keep our children in tune with their curriculum; parents and educational institutes need to understand that there is a need to limit the timings and use digital media strategically. 

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences states that children below 2 years of age should not be exposed to gadgets and children above 2 years of age should not be looking at the computer screen for more than 30 minutes. For years the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended no longer than 2 hours of screen time for children and teenagers. But due to the current situations they have new guidelines which talk about preventing kids from using devices in an unhealthy manner. There isn’t a strict restriction for the number of hours of screen time allowed but parents should encourage kids to use screen time in moderation. 

Here is how you can try and use Digital media more strategically:

• Are you a healthy role model to your child?

Your child is likely to mimic you. Try and engage your children in other productive activities and be a role model for them. Read books and encourage this healthy habit, encourage them to learn from their surroundings, encourage them to help you in household chores. If your child has had an online learning session- can they apply the learning practically? Help them in having a practical approach to their lesions rather than just theoretical. 

• Engage with your child’s technology

Establish clear guidelines about the sites your child visits, the games he/she plays online and the movies they watch. Try to keep your child away from social media till they are of a certain age. It is difficult for teenagers to be away from social media. Explain to them the responsibility they have towards social media. Get involved in your child’s digital world. Look for activities that you can do together with your electronic gadgets. 

• Establish limits on screen time

When you give your child unlimited access to screen time, you are inviting trouble. Set limits on your child’s screen time. Do not allow your child to play video games all night or sit in front of the television all the time on Sundays. Establish rules and guidelines in your home to limit the use of technology and screen. Do not turn on electronic gadgets around the dining table or in the car or even before bedtime.

• Take breaks from your mobile devices

Take a break from your own social media and official work. Every half an hour, turn off your mobile devices and try to engage with your child. Set a special time for work for you and your child and once that is done, set time aside to do something together- which can be even having a conversation. Short breaks can help increase focus. Stepping away from the screen will not only be good for your body but your eyes as well.

• At times, do nothing at all

Don’t feel guilty when you just sit around looking at the clouds or looking at that beautiful garden or flowers in the park. Practice meditation and mindfulness- which can be termed as doing nothing, but can recharge your body and mind. These do not require body movement or activities or even working your mind, but they can surely take your mental strength to an all new level. 

These are testing and challenging times for all. As parents you need to navigate your children in the correct direction so that they are not enslaved by technology but use it for their betterment. In the discussion Pareeksha Pe Charcha P.M. Narendra Modi too warned students against addiction to electronic gadgets. Let us be vigilant and use technology strategically.