Let’s face it—technology is here to stay. Contrary to articles that will tell you about all the evils of technology, this one won’t do that. Like many things in life, technology provides both benefits and drawbacks. Regardless of your personal feelings on it, recognizing it will be a permanent part of your child’s future will help you start to work with it rather than against it.

Technology can be great for acquiring learning resources, developing compassion for different perspectives and cultures, and connecting with loved ones who aren’t physically near. That being said, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Some reasons why you should limit your child’s screen time include:

Encouraging physical activity

Kids need ample time to run around and explore their environment.

Facilitate healthy brain development

Too much screen time can cause your child’s developing brain to require constant stimulus to stay focused.

Develop social skills

Children who spend too much time on a device spend less time interacting with their peers and adults.

Maintain a regular sleep schedule

Overuse of technology can result in children struggling to develop a consistent bedtime and wake up time. This is because of the blue light devices emit.

Reduce anxiety and depression

Studies have shown that the higher a child’s screen time, the more likely they are to have symptoms of anxiety and depression.

In addition to limiting screen time, make sure you’re also making screen time safe. Instead of giving your child full control over what they do on the laptop or iPad, put in place some restrictions. For tips on how to facilitate safe screen time, check out the Kidadl website.