Parents should limit their children's media use, say pediatricians. Even more than the content of videos and apps, the length of screen time harms the youngest. These are the results of the study “Smart Growing Up 2019?” by pronova BKK, for which 100 pediatricians were surveyed.

The biggest problem from the pediatricians’ point of view:

The time spent with smartphones, consoles or tablets in children's everyday lives is becoming increasingly prevalent. That's what 98 percent of doctors say. 70 percent also consider the type and content of the games being played to be problematic at times. Nevertheless, a large majority of doctors reject radical bans. 81 percent of pediatricians find it absurd to completely prohibit children from using digital media these days.

Three out of four pediatricians instead advocate a time limit on media use.

“That should depend on the age of the children,”

says Imke Schmitz-Losem, consultant at pronova BKK.

“Babies and small children have no place in front of a screen. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children be allowed to spend a maximum of one hour a day using digital media from the age of two at the earliest.”

According to the pronova BKK study, two out of three doctors surveyed recommend that parents closely monitor media consumption and, for example, completely prohibit it for children under ten without supervision.

“Young children should under no circumstances be left alone with the devices. Videos and games can overwhelm or frighten children.”

Sport and fresh air are neglected

The most important concern for doctors is that children move more and do sports. 81 percent of the doctors surveyed are of the opinion that parents should pay more attention to this. In addition, 64 percent recommend sending children out into the fresh air more often.

“Exercise supports healthy child development. Anyone who can let off steam from time to time is more balanced and can concentrate better,”

says Schmitz-Losem from pronova BKK.

A majority of the pediatricians surveyed also see deficits in education in other respects. When asked what is missing most, 63 percent of the doctors surveyed answered that parents should place more value on leisure activities at home and advocate spending time together with the family. Patrizia Thamm, psychologist at pronova BKK, appeals to your own role model function:

“Parents should be careful not to spend too much time on digital media in front of their children. In this way, they model a healthy use of media and at the same time focus their attention more consciously on the needs of the children.”

Smartphones make you sick

A whole range of symptoms that doctors diagnose in their practices attribute to excessive media consumption. According to the survey, these include obesity, social problems, motor deficits and learning development disorders.

82 percent of the doctors surveyed notice that children are slipping into social isolation, for which they blame their media use. 79 percent have observed increased social problems among their young patients over the past five years. More and more children weigh too much, say 75 percent of doctors.

About the study
The study “Smart Growing Up 2019?” was carried out in October 2019 on behalf of pronova BKK as part of an online survey. 100 practicing pediatricians nationwide were surveyed.

About the pronova BKK
The pronova BKK was created from mergers of the company health insurance companies of well-known global corporations such as BASF, Bayer, Continental and Ford. Open nationwide to all interested parties, over 660,000 insured people already trust the health insurance company with their health.

Whether via app, chat, the 24-hour service telephone or in the 60 on-site customer services – pronova BKK takes care of its customers’ concerns at all times. Further information at pronovabkk.de.

Related to the topic: Study: Smartphone use is harmful to children's health

Source: pronova BKK
Article image: Shutterstock / From Halfpoint


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