{"id":8283,"date":"2023-04-03T10:50:21","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T02:50:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/?p=8283"},"modified":"2023-04-03T10:50:23","modified_gmt":"2023-04-03T02:50:23","slug":"limit-screen-use-in-children-under-six-says-psychologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/zestmag.com\/online\/limit-screen-use-in-children-under-six-says-psychologist\/","title":{"rendered":"Limit screen use in children under six, says psychologist"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Parents should strictly ration or not allow screen time for children aged under six, according to a leading neuropsychologist in a new book.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr \u00c1lvaro Bilbao, Ph.D., uses current and established research to highlight how the risk of psychological and behavioral issues increases the more time young children spend on iPhones and iPads. These include attention deficit disorder, depression and addiction problems.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introducing screens <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Understanding Your Child\u2019s Brain<\/em>,<\/a> the brain injury expert and psychotherapist says devices with screens should \u2018find their way into the child\u2019s hands gradually\u2019 once they have developed emotionally and intellectually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Bilbao says this should be ideally after age six which is also the recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The author cites technology gurus Bill Gates and Steve Jobs who have both stated in interviews that they restricted their children\u2019s screen use.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, Dr Bilbao reveals he has no apps on his mobile phone or tablet for his three children.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apps can \u2018cause the child to lose interest in other activities that are more beneficial to their development\u2019 says the author. For this reason, he has controversially left the book\u2019s final chapter \u2013 on the best apps for under-6s \u2013 entirely blank.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMany parents begin to encourage the use of mobile phones and tablets,\u201d explains Dr Bilbao who trained in the US and the UK. \u201cRather than moving towards a greater attention span and greater control of the child\u2019s own mind, in my opinion it provokes a delay\u2026It would be like giving an 800 cc motorbike to a child who has just learnt to walk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOccasionally my children use the mobile phone to look through photos of our holiday\u2026and we do it together. Sometimes we look at a song with them and learn the dance moves, but they don\u2019t play games. We also limit their time in front of the television.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Healthy emotional development<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding Your Child\u2019s Brain<\/em> uses basic neuroscience to explain how small children think, feel and behave in the first years of life. The book aims to help parents solve common child-rearing problems such as tantrums and to promote their offspring\u2019s healthy intellectual and emotional development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are four key sections for parents: the fundamentals for understanding child brain development, tools necessary for supporting this growth, how to teach emotional intelligence, and how to strengthen the intellectual brain.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The author likens healthy child brain development to nurturing an oak tree. To grow from \u2018seed\u2019 to maturity, children need physical security, a safe environment, and brain \u2018watering\u2019 i.e. parental nourishment, and trust\/freedom from parents.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Each parenting advice topic outlined in the book is linked to a specific brain area and how this develops in children. Toddler behaviour is controlled by the brain stem (reptilian brain) and limbic system (the paleomammalian or emotional brain) \u2013 not the rational brain, according to Dr Bilbao.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

 Dr Bilbao\u2019s dos and don\u2019ts for parents include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n