3 Things to Know About Brain Development
Parents need to take control of their child’s screen time because the child’s judgment and impulse control center is not fully functioning yet. The child physically can NOT self-regulate.
Activities change your child’s brain
Your child’s activities will create the neuronal structure for their future brain. Healthy activities make for well balanced fully connected brains while excessive screen use leads to imbalanced and fragmented brains. Young brains need plenty of movement, touch, attachment to family, varied activities, and exposure to nature for optimal development of neuronal pathways.
Use it or lose it
Around puberty the brain is pruned of neurons that are not being used. There is only a short window of opportunity for important developmental activities to occur. Screens can get in the way of more important activities in a child’s developmental life.
What does the research say?
Dr. Victoria Dunckley explains the effects of screens on the overall child, Electronic Screen Syndrome, and how screen overuse can change their brain.
The Teenage Brain is Still on Training Wheels
When our kids spend large amounts of time on screens, they will hard-wire their brain for that activity. Wiring that happens during the formative years of the brain stays with your child for life. Kids, therefore, need their parents to help guide them toward a wide variety of activities and social situations that will help form their brain’s pathways. Otherwise, simple things like making eye contact or even making a phone call can get to be extremely stressful and difficult for the over-screened young adult.