Notes

The AAP's new View

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is changing its mind about "screen time" - or at least moving its stance into the full-on digital age.



The AAP's impending revision to its policy statement was announced in October. It acknowledges that its current screen-time guidelines are outdated. Srvlst They are best known for restricting screen time for children under 2, and for restricting screen time for older children and teens to two hours per day. Some of the current guidelines was written prior to the widespread use of internet. Ari Brown, a pediatrician and chairperson of the AAP Children, Adolescents and Media Leadership Work Group, sent this email. "Our previous recommendations were made because there were enough developmental and health concerns about the potential risk of using TV to inform parents.



With schools eagerly implementing technology wherever funding permits and that's not even including grade-school enrichment classes on programming software that lets children compose music using computers and the overwhelming evidence that playing Minecraft can benefit kids with autism, a belief in strict minimization is ignoring the obvious. Today's kids are "digital natives." Technology is in their blood.



The AAP's new view, which is summarized in "Beyond turning off the TV How to guide families on media use," sees TVs, gaming systems, computers, tablets and smartphones as just devices. The time spent with them could be beneficial for children or harmful for children, depending on how they're used.



In 2012, the AAP made children media and children a top priority. This culminated in the 2015 "Growing Up Digital” symposium. The symposium brought together experts on child development, pediatrics, social science, media, neuroscience and education, and called attention to the growing body of evidence supporting the potential (and potentially significant) benefits of screen time for children and adolescent growth.



At the symposium social scientists presented data showing that when teens connect online, these friendships can be "significantly meaningful," and sometimes "more friendly than their real friendships," reports Brown.



The conclusion, she states, is that "there are some very positive [online] opportunities for acceptance and encouragement as teens establish their identity and self-esteem."



Other insights offered insight into possibilities to improve the teaching capabilities of digital media. She says that neuroscientists presented research that demonstrated that children aged 2 are able to learn new words using video chat. This suggests that it's the back and forth interaction that is the most important. Technology that facilitates this back-and-forth is more likely to help facilitate learning.



Here's the problem: Handing an iPad to a 2-year old and then walking away isn't going make it.



"All of our experts emphasized the importance of co-engagement" Brown says. The involvement of parents determines the final nature of screen time. For young children especially positive outcomes are dependent on "screen time" being "together time."



Much of screen time's potential for good is dependent on the parents, no matter if the child is 3 or 13. The AAP suggests parents involve their children in the online world when possible, and familiarize themselves with their kids' devices of choice even if they don't share the same interests.



Parents should establish ground guidelines for screen time. They should also establish "screen-free zones" (hint and dinner table) and keep track of all content. Screen time may have its advantages but it also has dangers that could be posed by screen time.



Brown says that "Parenting isn't changing." "The same rules apply to all the environments your child's life is in - home, school, technology ... Set limits, be a good role model, and know the names of your children's friends are and where they're going."



The AAP's new policy document on children and media is likely to not come out until late this year, however Brown says it will "acknowledge where the research gaps are ... look to optimize the opportunity that the digital age offers and reduce the risk. It is sufficient to be universal and adaptable enough to be updated as technology evolves.



Now That's Cool Kids with Autism have their own private Minecraft server. "Autcraft" allows them to reap all the developmental benefits of Minecraft without the bullying that takes place in the main Minecraft space.


My Website: https://srvlst.com/