The computer does not harm itself: content and time of use are important
Controlling organizations often
Northern Ireland Department of Educationnames approximately the same risks: problems with posture, photosensitive epilepsy, uncontrolled consumption of content. WHO is most concerned about the fact that children spend time on computers instead of moving more and playing outdoors.
Vision.Doctors have long believed that screen flickeringaggravates myopia, and it was recommended to work at the computer only with a protective screen. But studies conducted over 20 years have shown that computers do not harm vision. Myopia is influenced by heredity and lack of ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, it is more important for a child to walk in the fresh air to preserve his vision.
Back and neck muscle problems.Researchers surveyed more than 400 children inNew York schools found that those who sit at the computer more often have back and neck pain. The study was small, but the same data is given in the Hopkins University guide. The authors warn that those who sit at a computer for long periods of time develop not only back and neck problems, but also repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome. To avoid these risks, children should take breaks every half hour and study in comfortable chairs.
Allergic reactions.Rospotrebnadzor believes that charged particlescomputer screens lead to breathing problems, but we did not find such studies. On the contrary, they found that children with asthma are more likely to sit at the computer because their parents are afraid of attacks and do not allow them to play outside. And it does not aggravate the development of asthma.
Rospotrebnadzor also writes about dermatitis, butthere appears to be no proven harm. Previously, it was believed that radiation from VST monitors was harmful to the skin. But, firstly, such monitors no longer exist, and secondly, it seems that the harm is associated with other reasons, for example, particularly sensitive skin.
Impact of dangerous content.Psychologists often say that children who playplay violent computer games or watch videos with scenes of violence, and behave more aggressively than others. Scientists at Dartmouth College conducted a meta-analysis of such studies and saw that children playing violent computer games are more likely to fight at school and on the street, and damage property, such as school furniture. But these studies do not say what is the cause and what is the effect - perhaps children who are initially more aggressive are more likely than others to play violent computer games.
It seems that the more children stay at home, the morethe more they are exposed to dangerous content. In a 2011 study, scientists saw that children rarely use the Internet unsafely, that is, they rarely go to sites with dangerous content and rarely leave their data on sites or download harmful programs from them. At the same time, in 2020, Unicef reported that due to the lockdown and the transition to distance learning, the risks of dangerous content for children have increased, and they need to be protected.
Low mobility. The more children spend on the computer andsmartphones, the less they move. The American Association of Children's Pediatricians and Psychiatrists reports this and considers it one of the main risks for children's development. Movement is important for development, for example, WHO considers that time spent on the computer is as harmful as time spent in a stroller or crib for children under four years of age. In addition, it is movement in the fresh air that reduces the risks associated with vision diseases.
Gaming addiction.By gambling addiction we need to understand thatthe child not only spends a lot of time playing games, but does not see the benefit and pleasure in other activities. It's just that the time spent playing the game has little effect. A longitudinal study of 11,000 British schoolchildren concluded that there was no difference in behavior between children who played for one hour and three hours.
But if teenagers sit for games longer, then thisaffects primarily health. Research from the University of India says that most teenagers who are addicted to computer games have high heart rate and blood pressure due to too much excitement and stress.
The computer helps in learning, socialization and self-control
Emotional well-being.Researchers from Oxford Universityfound that children who play computer games from one to three hours a day have fewer emotional problems and are more satisfied with life than those who do not play computers and than those who play computers constantly. Apparently, they are able to show some of their negative emotions in the game and get rid of them. At the same time, those who play a lot seem to get more tired and not feel as good.
Self-control.In the same study, it turned out that children who play for an hour to three hours a day experience fewer problems with self-control and are less likely to have problems with hyperactivity.
Help learning.British National Trust Researchliteracy showed that children aged three to five enjoy e-books more than regular books. Apparently, this is due to the fact that it is easier for children to interact with e-books.
Cognitive psychologist Heather Kirkorian confirmsThis data says that there is nothing harmful for children in the very use of computers and e-books. If children play educational games and learn letters and numbers, it will only benefit them.
True, there is a feeling that this only worksfor preschoolers and primary schoolchildren. Researchers debate whether there is a difference in academic performance between those who study on the computer and play games and those who do not. In 2013, economists Farley and Robinson did not find this difference, but in a review study, specialists from the University of California found it.
Social connections are larger and stronger
According to the same study by Farley and Robinson,Access to computers helps children establish social connections, and not only on the Internet. They had more social connections, not only virtual ones, but also real ones.
According to preliminary results, childrenthose who accidentally received a free computer regularly interacted with more friends than students without computers. They also spent more time talking to these friends in person. And there was no tangible difference in the cyberbullying experience.
Researchers who studied preschoolers using and not using computers came to similar results. The former showed more social skills and fewer behavior problems.
Helps Develop Critical Thinking
Researchers from Radboud University showedthat role-playing and strategy games help develop critical thinking and develop reflection. That is, the child learns to ask the right questions, to separate the important from the unimportant - and shooters and other action games do not affect these skills in any way. But, of course, games cannot be the only source of developing critical thinking.
How to help your child have the right time at the computer
Alternate activities.So that the child does not have problems with vision andposture, he needs to move more and take more breaks with fewer computer activities. The easiest way to do sports at this time is not so important whether the child goes to special training, does exercises at home or runs around the park, the main thing is that he does not sit at the computer all the time.
But if a child does not like sports, it is important in anyoccasion to diversify his day. Transfer what your child likes in games and cartoons into the real world - draw your favorite characters, invent stories about them, build structures and vehicles that are in games.
More fresh air.If the child spends more than three to four hoursoutdoors, the harm from the computer will be less noticeable. It is better if the child does not just sit on the bench, but play outdoor games and generally move more. If he does not have a company to play, and you also find it difficult to allocate time for this, you should come up with a sport that is interesting to him - throwing a ball into the ring or riding a bicycle.
Control the content.It would be good if this works with at leastpreschoolers and primary schoolchildren - they may stumble upon dangerous content by accident. There is no need to monitor the history in the browser; it is enough to know what your child is watching at the moment. It is unlikely that you will be able to set up control with teenagers, but you can negotiate with them and discuss what you have watched.
Be creative at the computer.Research shows benefits from computergames, but it’s even better if the child doesn’t just watch videos or play, but creates. Moreover, this can be done even in gaming environments, Minecraft or Roblox - there you can create characters, objects and even entire game worlds, and in the process the child will learn to program at a basic level. But to understand what exactly the child is doing - playing or creating, you will have to play with him.
If the child is still only consuming content, butwants something more - help him and find a suitable activity. You can find online or offline courses, videos about programming or video editing. But if you decide to study on your own, you will have to learn these activities before your child.
Play with your child. This will help both establish contact with the child andcontrol what he plays. Parents may be prejudiced against computer games, but it's worth giving them a chance. The child will most likely be interested in showing you his favorite games and being stronger than you in some ways.
Properly equip your workplace.This will reduce the harm the computer causes to your eyesight and posture.First of all, you need to pay attention to the chair and the location of the computer at the table. The monitor should be installed directly in front of your eyes at a distance of 60–70 cm from the eyes. The height of the chair should be such that your feet are level on the floor and your knees are bent at right angles.