Screen Time Resulting in Children Turning Up to Doctors with Motor Delays, Decreased Muscle Strength
November 17th, 2013Via: CBS:
Tablets and toddlers: A warning for parents of tech-savvy children. The American Academy of Pediatrics says children under two should avoid all screen time.
Jessica Kartalija reports doctors and therapists fear too much time on touchscreens could cause long-term damage.
Playtime for babies is far different in the 21st century. But parents could be making a big mistake putting touchscreens in the hands of toddlers and young children.
Parents think they’re educating and stimulating their kids, but doctors and therapists are raising a red flag — too much screen time can hurt their developing bodies.
“If they are always on the iPad and not actually doing those paper pencil activities that they should still be doing, those muscles are going to remain weaker,” said occupational therapist Lindsay Marzoli, Learning and Therapy Corner.
…
Kartalija: “This isn’t just about the fine motor, it’s about their body as well.”
Marzoli: “What we’re seeing is a lot of children coming in with some motor delays, some decreased muscle strength in areas.”
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