Pulling back the tech

Community Learning Center Director Amy Baskin really knew times had changed when she saw a cell phone attached to a stroller, so that a video could be played to keep the child occupied.

And while children might be kept quiet with use of electronic devices, parents may not realize that the early and prolonged exposure to such devices — cell phones, tablets, even TVs – can affect both a child’s development and behavior.

That’s why the center will be providing information to parents during the annual Literacy Day on April 7 at the Austin Public Library.

Don’t expect lectures, but good information about the effects of raising children in a digital world.

Baskin said staff had asked that the issue be addressed after watching a growing number of children in danger of developmental delays due to that exposure.

“We live in a technological world; we understand that,” Baskin said. “But what we’re seeing are children with delays in vision, smaller vocabulary, shorter attention spans, and more talking about violence.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics has seen the issues, too. The organization recommends no type of screen exposure to children under the age of 2, and emphasizes caution when allowing children use of cell phones and other devices.

There is much research that parents should understand, not the least of which is that even infants know the beeping or ringing of cell phone is a signal that the parent won’t be paying attention to them, but to the phone. Good development requires interaction and “face time” with a child – and a child who believes a parent will be more involved in a cell phone will also learn to compete for its attention, with bad behavior.

Worse yet, a child’s own too-involved use of a device like a cell phone can slow development of eye muscles, that require up and down movement. Attention that is too focused in one direction — down — can harm that development, studies show. Too much TV-watching can also have a negative affect on creative play. Studies say that by the time a child is 18, they will have witnessed some 200,000 scenes of violence on TV.

Baskin said local parents have told of their children expressing fear even though they know their child hasn’t watched a movie that might be violent or frightening.

But even toddlers in the same room with such a movie — even though it looks as if they are playing with toys — can subliminally absorb the sounds of and reactions to the movie.

Baskin is quick to note that no one expects parents to suspend use of digital devices, but they should use them in moderation and with children in mind. She worries when she sees a family out at a restaurant, “and a phone is propped up in front of the child and both parents are on their phones,” and that valuable interaction between parents and child is being lost.

She and staff are urging parents to develop “media plans,” that include screen-free zones, screen-free times, and device curfews.

“Our children need to interact with others,” she said. “We know parenting can be really hard, but this is really important — and we think once parents realize how technology can affect children, they’ll change the way they use these devices,” she said.