possible, and the use of social media until at least 13 years of age. “Let screen time be a reward, not a privilege. Keep all screens in shared spaces and always supervise children on screens.” Dr Shatkin also talked about the need for improved nutrition – in particular in American schools, most of which provide lunch. “A third of American children today are obese. We need to be teaching kids to learn to cook and to make healthy choices. When this happens, we find they do make good choices.”
Many children are sleep deprived.
On screen time, Dr Shatkin is crystal clear.
“We’re not giving our kids enough rest.” Studies show later school start times have resulted in higher grades, higher SAT scores, and better decision-making. Dr Shatkin says teaching children communication skills, healthy habits, anxiety and stress management, risk reduction and mood management are key components in developing resilience, and they are all skills which can be taught in schools.
“Screen time and language studies have found that kids who have more than 11 hours of screen time a week have lower structural integrity in their brain. And we know that screen time also disrupts melatonin and contributes to early puberty. The earlier we block melatonin, the more we bring on early puberty. “Screen use impacts the brain, and is associated with decreases in grey matter.” He recommends postponing the use of screens for as long as
Christ’s College Canterbury
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