Technology has boomed before our own eyes and COVID, in 2020 did what most parents dreaded—bringing screens readily within our children’s reach. Although Norway recently introduced education reforms and is chucking screen from the education scenario, unfortunately in the larger schema, screens are integral to education. What we have begun to notice is how excessive screen time can hinder students’ cognitive growth. We explored well researched papers from @Harvard Medical School and @Youth First.
These researches indicate that overexposure to screens may lead to:
- Reduced attention spans and increased distractibility,
- Impaired memory, attention, and language skills, (now we know one villain causing grammar impairment)
- Lower academic performance and emotional dysregulation.
We do not want to end the use of technology, but to nurture intellectual development, it is crucial for students to balance screen use with activities for critical thinking and creativity. They can read, join sports—both indoor and outdoor, join interactive groups, participate in social and cultural activities, among many others.
For more insights, explore these articles on:
Screen Time and the Brain | Harvard Medical School
youthfirstinc.org/benefits-of-decreased-screen-time/
Let’s encourage habits that support our students’ mental and intellectual well-being than merely seeing them as machines for our life’s milestones.
