How to Reprogram Kids Away from Electronics
Dr. Pip Spandorfer coaches parents on methods to implement healthy digital habits and reduce overall family anxiety.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Now that the school year is underway, doctors are concerned about the downside of digital devices. Research has shown that excessive smartphone usage by children – including time spent on social media and gaming apps – can lead device addiction.
“I’ve been a pediatrician for over 25 years,” says Dr. Philip Spandorfer (known as “Dr. Pip”). “During that time, I’ve helped thousands of families navigate the confusing and sometimes overwhelming world of information we live in. This addiction can lead to a myriad of issues for children and teens including anxiety, depression, insomnia, headaches, and loneliness. Excessive exposure to social media can also lead to your teen to making unhealthy comparisons and developing a negative body image.”
As far back as five years ago, the American Pediatric Academy stated that 87 percent of children had already exceeded usage recommendations, while the National Institutes of Health found that children’s heavy reliance on screen media raises serious public health issues since it might harm their cognitive, linguistic, and social-emotional growth.
Dr. Spandorfer advises parents, “If your child already has a device, it’s important to establish very clear rules about its use in order to make healthy choices. By building healthy digital habits, kids can improve their mental health and well-being,” continues Spandorfer. “But building those healthy habits often requires them to start by spending some time away from their phones.”
In implementing a digital detox, adults might be able to motivate themselves to engage in a change of habits, while kids rarely share the same motivation. Dr. Pip urges parents to lead by example, and not ask the child to do something that they are not willing to do.
Kids want to use their devices to stay connected to their friends, access entertainment, and play games. Convincing them to detox from digital media can be a challenge.
Spandorfer suggests these tips:
1. Designate regular unplugged times for everyone in the family. Start by having your family unplug during dinner, which is often the only time during the day when everyone sits down together. Unplugging two hours before bedtime is also crucial, as it gives the nervous system time to recover from the ever-present stimuli of screens.
2. Establish screen-free areas of your home. Refrain from allowing your child to have a computer or device in their bedroom. If they need to use a computer, let them use it in a location where you can monitor their activity. The smart phone should be plugged in somewhere other than the child’s bedroom at night. They don’t need to use their phone as their alarm clock.
3. Plan screen-free family activities. These may include going on a family walk after dinner, playing board games, or spending time outdoors.
4. Help your child find other ways to self-soothe when they’re feeling unhappy or uncomfortable. They can cultivate healthier calming and self-care routines through simple meditation or breathing practices, drawing or journaling about their feelings, or participating in an offline hobby.
Spandorfer recently opened Focus Pediatrics, a new practice, with Drs. Tracy Barr and Ben Grinzaid, designed to concentrate on the entire child, both physically and mentally. They work with parents to raise resilient children and specialize in addressing ADHD as well as anxiety and depression.
Dr. Spandorfer received his Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Emory University in 1991 and his medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia in 1995. He obtained his pediatric training through the University of Pennsylvania at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where he also completed a year as chief resident and a fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine.
Spandorfer has been selected by Atlanta Magazine and Castle Connolly as “Top Doc,” and has been recognized in the Atlanta Jewish Times “Best of Jewish Atlanta.”
Benefits for Limiting Screen Time:
* More time to spend exercising or outside, which is proven to boost mental health
* Better sleep, which enhances their well-being and overall health
* Improved real-life connections and quality time with family members and friends
* An ability to just talk to someone as opposed to texting
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