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It's difficult prying children away from the television or from their gadgets, but parents must take a tough stand to protect their kids' wellbeing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that children under five years old should not spend more than an hour a day in front of the TV or computer screens, according to the Daily Mail.
Those who are under the age of two should not even view them at all because "children younger than 2 years need hands-on exploration and social interaction with trusted caregivers to develop their cognitive, language, motor and social-emotional skills."
If parents don't observe this warning and let their kids overuse their smartphones, electronic tablets, and laptops, their children are at risk of damaging their sleep, fitness, and ability to socialise with others.
"They need hands-on play. They need to be giggling with their parents or caregivers. They need to be engaging with the physical world," said University of Michigan pediatrician Dr. Jenny Radesky.
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The warning was reiterated recently by British doctors. Psychologist and child expert Dr. Aric Sigman said the government should do something to about this growing problem and issue public guidelines to avoid a "timebomb" from exploding.
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"We are reaching a crucial point," said Sigman.
Meanwhile, should parents decide to introduce their kids to TV and gadgets, doctors recommended that they select high-quality programming. They also said parents should watch shows with their children to help them understand what they are seeing, according to Forbes.
On the flip side, parents should avoid letting kids indulge in fast-paced programmes because they are difficult for young children to understand.
At the same time, parents should not let TV and gadget use become a reward for kids to quiet down. Sure, it can be useful whenever kids are acting out during plane rides or doctors' appointments, but routinely doing so will make it more difficult for kids to regulate their own emotions.
